Conspiracy against Pakistan: PCB
Ijaz Butt terms the cricket scandal a conspiracy against the country to isolate it from international cricket.
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 20th, 2010.
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 20th, 2010.