Sports

Conspiracy against Pakistan: PCB

Ijaz Butt terms the cricket scandal a conspiracy against the country to isolate it from international cricket.

Fawad Hussain September 20, 2010

KARACHI: Miffed at the latest allegations against the team, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt has lashed out and termed it a conspiracy against the country to isolate it from international cricket.

In what was a breaking of silence from the PCB over the wave of scandals and allegations on the tour of England, the PCB chairman confirmed that the board will not keep quiet anymore and will take a strong stance on it.

‘Defrauding Pakistan’

“It is clearly a conspiracy against Pakistan cricket as we are accused even after winning,” Ijaz told The Express Tribune. “Every time they put the charge of defrauding bookmakers, it seems like they are defrauding Pakistan.”

The Sun, a British tabloid and the sister publication of the weekly the News of the World, alleged that the third One-Day International (ODI) between Pakistan and England witnessed scoring patterns related to the newspaper by a bookmaker prior to the match.

The report was then shared by the newspaper with the International Cricket Council (ICC) which then launched its investigation without consulting or informing the PCB.

PCB not happy with the ICC

“We are not happy with the ICC on its dealing in the matter and have strongly protested against it. It seems that people have made Pakistan their target but we will not keep quiet now.”

The investigation was launched soon after Pakistan won their first match of the ODI series at The Oval, beating the hosts by 23 runs following Umar Gul’s career-best six-wicket haul.

The flurry of wickets towards the end of the match saw England lose their last five wickets for just 17 runs.

England’s collapse

Ijaz felt that the results made it quite obvious who was involved in fixing, if any, given the result.

“England lost the match after being in a very strong position. If there was fixing going on in the match, even a child can understand who must have been involved in it.”

The PCB chief was also unhappy with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) which declared its players innocence while opting not to comment on behalf of the Pakistan team.

‘Strong case being prepared

“They just cleared their players raising doubts on our players despite the fact that there was no evidence against match-fixing found.

“We’re preparing a strong case through high-profile
lawyers and won’t put this issue down until Pakistan is cleared. We’ll avail all options and can go anywhere to seek justice.”

He also requested his countrymen to back the team in the current situation and said that since “it was a conspiracy against Pakistan, everyone should raise their voice against it and support their stance”.

Pakistan take on England in the 4th ODI today still trailing 2-1.

Ijaz Butt

“We are not happy with the ICC on its dealing in the matter and have strongly protested against it. It seems that people have made Pakistan their target but we will not keep quiet now.”

Zaheer Abbas

“I think the ICC has taken a decision in haste and the PCB must protest with them. The new allegations are from a newspaper of the same group as News of the World, so I see it as a conspiracy against Pakistan.”

Rashid Latif

“After getting the information, the ICC started its investigation and the PCB rightly expressed its disappointment. The ICC is there because of its members and being a full member the PCB should’ve been given the due respect.”

Abdul Qadir

“I see the latest fixing allegations relating to the ODI win at The Oval as part of the Lord’s Test scandal and there are people who are targeting the Pakistan team. This should be protested strongly.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 20^th, 2010.

COMMENTS (5)

Nael | 13 years ago | Reply Its about time. Conspiracy or not, the Board should respond to allegations proactively. Pakistanis are easy targets purely because of weak and incompetent personnel at the helm. As for England, you can bet that they will use every tactic available to them to put Pakistani players under pressure. Recall any series and you will see a pattern in how English board and media conducts itself. Now get focused and win the series. As for the players who are proven guilty of match fixing, making them an example for the times to come. Oh, and to his highness Sir Botham, he can jump in river Thames with his wise ones.

Anoop | 13 years ago | Reply Everything is a conspiracy for Pakistanis.

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Hassan | 13 years ago | Reply Mr Butt was on tv here in london a few hours ago, he doesn't have a clue of how to put his "conspiracy" case to the world media.

Daubic | 13 years ago | Reply I am really bored of hearing this dialogue for each and everything that happens in pakistan. At-least change the words so that the audience would be thrilled and amused. By the way, may I know why the world want to conspire against one nation like Pakistan. People who have brains would think about this and who have courage would accept the facts and try to rectify the problem. As usual, people in power will throw the words like conspiracy against the nation by RAW/MOSSAD/CIA/ICC etc..... I could not laugh more when I hear some statements like, Pakistan won the 3rd test, hence England conspired to throw its star players out so that they can win the series. Now we are hearing, as Pakistan won the third ODI, England conspired to throw venom at Pakistan. All I could say is, Pakistan is the team which wins once in a blue moon and hence by one win be it ODI/Test/20-20, we cannot claim it be the best in business. If that is the case, why don't England conspire against Australia, SA, NZ, India etc..... These teams winning rate is much better than pakistan winning rates.

Ibadullah Qazi | 13 years ago | Reply At last the PCB has woken up to the crisis. They should have taken these legal steps earlier when the allegations first surfaced in the NOTW. Why were the PCB bosses effecting a disappearing act after the first bout of allegations is beyond my comprehension.... But I wonder how Ejaz Butt Sahib came to know about the vibes from the inner circles of the illegal bookmakers? There are quite a few possibilities. First, he is a part of some illegal bookmaking syndicate, that's why he came to know of the payments being made to the English players.The gentleman is the only source for such information so far. Secondly, He or his sleuths have penetarted the illegal bookmaking syndicates so that Pakistani palyers could be saved from their illicit advances by frustrating their designs. Last but not the least, in his trademark style, the PCB chairman just blurted it out without giving an iota of thought to the cosequences of such wild allegations. the last conclusion is partly corroborated by his track record on many issues relating to the Pakistan Cricket. It's pertinent to mention that in case he fails to prove the allegations that he has levelled against the English team, it might land the PCB and the Cricket team in further trouble. A libel case by the biased and frantically excited English media could entail into more drama off and more collateral damage on the pitch.

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