Sports

We’re victimised because we’re Pakistanis: Salman

Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir claim that ICC is being biased against Pakistan and had no evidence to suspend them.

Express November 01, 2010

Provisionally-suspended Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir have hit out at the International Cricket Council (ICC) and accused them of treating the duo unfairly following its decision to uphold the provisional suspension against the Pakistani players.

The two players returned to Lahore from Dubai where their appeals over their provisional suspensions were rejected by the chairman of the ICC Code of Conduct Commission, Michael Beloff, after a two-day hearing that ended on Sunday.

The pair, who were suspended on September 2 by the ICC along with teammate Mohammad Asif who opted not to appeal against his suspension, have been told to prepare for a full hearing of the case as they are facing serious allegations of spot-fixing.

“They have no evidence and it appears they are just trying to corner Pakistan,” angry former Test captain Salman told reporters at the airport. “We’re being victimised because we’re Pakistanis. They have no evidence except for what has appeared in the News of the World and they didn’t even give us a date for the full hearing, we are totally disappointed.”

A report in the British tabloid alleged Amir and Asif deliberately bowled no-balls to order in a Test against England at Lord’s in August, with the involvement of Salman who was then the captain of the side. Left-arm fast bowler Amir said the allegations against them were a conspiracy against Pakistan cricket.

“To me it appeared as if this is a conspiracy to defame Pakistan cricket,” said Amir. “I am hurt and sad because we want the truth to come out. I am disappointed because they didn’t even tell us the reason for rejecting our appeals. It appeared as if the decision of the hearing had been made beforehand.”

The former Test captain also hit out at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after the board refused to back the players and provide any sort of assistance following the ICC’s decision. According to Salman, the board asked the players not to speak out in the aftermath of the allegations which led to the belief that the players were guilty, a notion that Salman denied vociferously.

“We remained quiet after the allegations were labelled on us but that’s because the PCB told us not to speak to the media about it,” he told a local news channel.

“Now the PCB has backed off as well which is why I ask anyone that has any evidence against us to come forward. If there’s something against us then bring it out otherwise let us play.”

Salman’s lawyer Aftab Gul said after Sunday’s decision that while the hearing was fair he was disappointed by the outcome. The two players said they would wait for the ICC to send them a date for the hearing before deciding on their next step.

Salman also questioned the ICC’s decision in the light of the ongoing investigations in the UK given that the alleged bookmaker involved in the case, Mazhar Majeed, was freed without charge and is “free to go about his life as normal”. (With additional input from Reuters)

Published in The Express Tribune, November 2^nd, 2010.

COMMENTS (12)

maitre | 13 years ago | Reply No Mr. Butt! You are victimised because you were caught redhanded. Besides, your statement before your departure clearly indicated that you were involved in the spot-fixing. Instead of disowning relations with Mazhar Majeed, you owned him as your player manger. And 'birds of a feather fly together.' You (and all those involved before you) all have ruined the name of sports in pakistan. If I were an administrator, I would have filed a 'national infamy case' against you and ordered public flogging. People like you should never be given a second chance. Besides, Ijaz Butt and the whole PCB should be immediately dissolved for their incompetence of addressing such important affairs before the English Tour commenced. He is still eying another extension as PCB chairman. For God sake, what the ministry of sports is doing and what the President of pakistan has to offer in justification for Ijaz Butt's corrupt chairmanship and foreign tours expenses. How far can we serve as alter for these calous minded Presidents and ministers like Ahmed Mukhtar? For he is Ijaz Butt's relative and supporter.

Azeem | 13 years ago | Reply You're victimized because you are a bunch of lying cheats who sold out their team and their country for money.

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anwar | 13 years ago | Reply Michael Beloff stop bluffing reinstate amir & asif before world cup. But it seems that ICC is quite reluctant regarding the inclusion of amir & asif. Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir claim that the ICC is being biased against Pakistan and had no evidence to suspend them.

Tahir | 13 years ago | Reply Why is it always the world, in this case ICC, against us? It is as if world or ICC has nothing else to do but to indulge in these intricate plots and bring us down. It's us all along who are disappointing ourselves. The sooner we realize this, the better we can get back on track of progress.

AB | 13 years ago | Reply You are being "victimised" because you were caught red-handed - and you brought shame upon our nation. Take it like a man Salman.

kk tiger | 13 years ago | Reply Salman Butt saab we are not victimised because we are pakistanis but because we are 'jawaris' and you know that deep down in your heart ! Do'nt try to play innocent

Noreen Shams | 13 years ago | Reply relax guys I guess this is somehow true when there is no evidence on the table... they have been cleared out from investigation then what need of such ban on them .... keeping aside those mistakes they have done just think how well they play for our team they represented same Pakistan when they played well ... its really a conspiracy just to defame Pakistan nothing else...

ArifQ | 13 years ago | Reply Tainted cash notes found in their rooms, video clip of their 'agent' openly claiming their involvement, actual event of no-ball being recorded all of this was done as a move to defame Pakistan. Next we will hear that Blackwater was involved.

Fifi Haroon | 13 years ago | Reply It's bad enough that they don't have the moral courage to own up, but now they have the gall to go on the offensive with this hackneyed defense. It is not the ICC but Salman and Aamir who have let us down and betrayed our trust. It does not occur to them that their actions caused distress, embarassment and hurt to so many Pakistanis and damaged the reputation of Pakistani cricket at a time when the country was reeling from the worst floods in its history. They didn't think about Pakistan then, but they use its name so freely now. I had thought that Aamir because he was so young had a case and could actually ask for a second chance with some justification that he had been manipulated by more seasoned players. I have changed my mind, Everyone is entitled to a proper hearing and Salman and Aamir can express their dissatisfaction with the ICC delay in more constructive ways - but they are not entitled to insult our intelligence. They cannot use the we are victimized as Pakistanis argument as if they're great nationalists. Salman and Aamir need to apologize to Pakistan but that will never happen because they are clearly preoccupied with saving their own skins. The ICC may or may not be squeaky clean but It is Salman and Aamir who have defamed us and victimized us for being Pakistanis.

bunny | 13 years ago | Reply @ Mr suhail & Mr Amer: My respected brothers. Impression i got from your comments are they are guilty. Well Ok, I think we should learn the difference of a criminal and an alleged person. If they would have done something then ICC has to prove it. Am i right? They should provide enough evidence to back up this case. The must be banned if they are proven guilty, if they are not then tell us the reason why it happened again? Rest come to corrupt nation. We are not corrupt as a nation but few small and big corrupt people makes out image like this, So please differentiate among them because someday, someone has to stand up to work for Pakistan. I also saw the Asif father standing among cows and saying i dont have much.. so would you believe that report as well?... gentlemen with due respect Mr Ijaz butt is not a professional person he dont know how to deal the issue professionally. I think he must support the players until they are proven guilty. Listen As a Pakistani We should show our character. We should stand with our player until something comes in front of us.when it comes life ban no problem. so world could we have got the power to fight and also to punish.....please comment on it.....

Amer | 13 years ago | Reply Oh PALEEESE Salman! T Stop trying to deceive the Pakistani fans. You have destroyed the career of an 18 year old, who could have been one of the all time best bowlers. Corruption has taken a center stage in your way of thinking and it needed to be explosed.

A Suhail | 13 years ago | Reply These guys are playing to the gallery. They were caught red handed with a bookie. Pakistan is dealing with massive corruption and spot fixing/match fixing is one type of it. We should not take side of these greedy individuals who bring our country name down. One of the TV station did a report on Amir and showed his houses, cars and businesses owned by his father. Then they matched it against what Amir made in cash by being player. There was huge discrepancy in what he made and what he owned. There is no conspiracy by foreign powers we are just one corrupt nation where everyone wants to be rich and own a house in Dubai using any means possible, I hope they are banned for life we have enough talented cricketers to fill in their shoes.

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