PCB chief asks ICC to reconsider trio’s suspension

PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt questions the governing body’s decision to suspend accused trio in midst of probe.

KARACHI: Just a day after expressing his satisfaction over the manner in which the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) dealt with the spot-fixing controversy, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ijaz Butt questioned the governing body’s decision to suspend accused trio in midst of probe.

The ICC, following the revelations provisionally suspended Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir pending the outcome of the investigations. However, Ijaz, who met the ICC chief Sharad Pawar in India and expressed his satisfaction, has now showed discontent on the trio’s suspension saying the action should not have been taken until the players were proven guilty.

“The decision is debatable and the players should be allowed to play as the probe is still underway,” the chairman told Times Now, an Indian television channel. “The ICC took the decision as per its code of conduct and the players have also responded to it but we have asked the ICC to reconsider it,” he said before adding the three players are likely to be summoned by the ICC to discuss their suspension.

“The ICC may have a meeting with players in which the decision might be reconsidered.”

The PCB chief, however, refrained from speaking further on the issue saying that the matter was still under investigation.

‘Majeed was players’ agent’

The PCB chairman confirmed that the alleged bookmaker Mazhar Majeed was the players’ agent but the PCB had no clue of his involvement in corruption. In a sting operation by the News of The World, Majeed was seen receiving money on behalf of Pakistani players to bowl no-balls as per his predictions during the fourth Test against England at Lord’s.

“Majeed was the players’ agent and that’s all what the PCB knew about him,” argued Ijaz before adding the alleged bookie has been arrested by the police again. “He has been put behind bars again on a money laundering case by the Scotland Yard.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 18^th, 2010.