Fixing scope wider than just Pakistan: Zia
Former cricketers and administrators agree that the spot-fixing allegations have left Pakistan cricket in a shambles.
LAHORE:
Former cricketers and administrators have agreed that the spot-fixing allegations have left Pakistan cricket in a shambles and has all but destroyed Pakistan’s credibility and image in the cricketing world.
The impact of the allegations, hurled by British tabloid the News of the World that alleged that fast-bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir took money for bowling deliberate no-balls, will have an impact far and wide, according to the experts.
“The accusations are unconfirmed as yet but I am afraid they are somehow true and have resulted in destroying Pakistan’s image,” former PCB chairman Tauqir Zia told The Express Tribune.
“But this isn’t the issue of just Pakistan cricket as once the Pandora’s box is open, there are so many other around the world whose credibility will be affected.
“For some reason Pakistan has been targeted but if the International Cricket Council (ICC) initiates a proper investigation into the issue, there are so many other names that will be exposed and the ICC should expand their scope of the scrutiny to countries other than Pakistan.”
On the contrary, former batsman Zaheer Abbas believed that things will be back on track with the passage of time.
“It is now a normal thing to link our players with fixing scandals and it will become difficult to not only win the people’s confidence and also convince teams to resume playing in Pakistan,” said Abbas.
“And only winning matches will allow the team to overcome such scandal in our country.”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 11th, 2010.
Former cricketers and administrators have agreed that the spot-fixing allegations have left Pakistan cricket in a shambles and has all but destroyed Pakistan’s credibility and image in the cricketing world.
The impact of the allegations, hurled by British tabloid the News of the World that alleged that fast-bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir took money for bowling deliberate no-balls, will have an impact far and wide, according to the experts.
“The accusations are unconfirmed as yet but I am afraid they are somehow true and have resulted in destroying Pakistan’s image,” former PCB chairman Tauqir Zia told The Express Tribune.
“But this isn’t the issue of just Pakistan cricket as once the Pandora’s box is open, there are so many other around the world whose credibility will be affected.
“For some reason Pakistan has been targeted but if the International Cricket Council (ICC) initiates a proper investigation into the issue, there are so many other names that will be exposed and the ICC should expand their scope of the scrutiny to countries other than Pakistan.”
On the contrary, former batsman Zaheer Abbas believed that things will be back on track with the passage of time.
“It is now a normal thing to link our players with fixing scandals and it will become difficult to not only win the people’s confidence and also convince teams to resume playing in Pakistan,” said Abbas.
“And only winning matches will allow the team to overcome such scandal in our country.”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 11th, 2010.