‘Money does not prove any wrongdoing’

PCB legal adviser Taffazul Rizvi says the money recovered from the trio does not prove any wrongdoing.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) legal adviser Taffazul Rizvi has said the money recovered from the trio does not prove any wrongdoing. He confirmed that Mazhar Majeed was the players’ agents and the money could have been part of sponsorship deals.

Fast-bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif were alleged to have bowled deliberate no-balls by British tabloid News of the World with Salman Butt also involved. The trio then withdrew from the ongoing England tour citing ‘mental tourture’ before being suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) until pending investigations. They were then questioned in Kilburn police station in north London, which the lawyer stressed was voluntary.

Rizvi said the trio went to the police, investigating the tabloid’s claims, voluntarily and answered all the questions in the presence of their lawyers and were not placed under arrest. “The players went there voluntarily and answered all their questions.”

Meanwhile Rizvi added that the money found with the players was not sufficient proof of any wrongdoing. Reports in British newspapers last week suggested that £50,000 was recovered from Salman by police.

“Majeed is their marketing agent and the money recovered from players could be paid on sponsorship deals and it doesn’t prove a crime.”

Majeed, an agent for several Pakistan players, was arrested following the allegations but later released on police bail.

However, Rizvi cleared that the PCB was not involved in the appointment of agents. “Players themselves appoint their agents, and once they make a deal they get good money in sponsorship and have regular meetings,” said Rizvi.

On the other hand the ICC sanctions have infuriated the Pakistani authorities, in particular Pakistani High Commissioner Wajid Shamsul Hasan, who has said he believes the players are innocent and has suggested they may have been set up.

“I met the cricketers for two hours, cross-questioned them, got to the bottom of it and concluded that they were innocent,” said Hasan. The ICC had no business to take this action. The ICC is just playing to the public gallery.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 5^th, 2010.