Salman, Amir urged to keep quiet

PCB urges Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir to exercise restraint following ICC decision to uphold provisional suspension.

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has urged Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir to exercise restraint following the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) decision to uphold the provisional suspension following the spot-fixing allegations.

Both cricketers blamed the governing body of cornering Pakistan after returning to Pakistan but, according to the PCB, a repeat of the outburst could land them in more trouble.  “There was no need for the outburst and the statements were totally uncalled-for,” PCB’s legal adviser Tafazzul Rizvi told The Express Tribune. “It was a shot on their own foot because their remarks can land them in more trouble.”

Salman claimed that the ICC had failed to produce evidence against them and said the decision of upholding the ban was pre-planned. Rizvi remained unconvinced with the comments as well as their timing.

“They [players] should’ve convinced the ICC tribunal on the matter as their lawyers were given ample time to give their version during the hearing that was stretched for two days,” said Rizvi. “The matter is not yet closed and things can still go in players’ favour but their comments against the hearing will not support their stance. If they had reservations about the individual then they should’ve made it clear prior to the hearing.”

The PCB lawyer also lashed out at players’ counsels for their post-hearing comments when they lamented the decision but showed their content with the hearing, an expression which they changed on their return by questioning the hearing procedure.

Salman Butt

“They have no evidence and it appears they are just trying to corner Pakistan. We’re being victimised because we’re Pakistanis. They have no evidence except for what has appeared in the News of the World.”

Mohammad Amir

“To me it appeared as if this is a conspiracy to defame Pakistan cricket. I am hurt and sad because we want the truth to come out It appeared as if the decision of the hearing had been made beforehand.”

Ehsan Mani

“You will always find that the boards with the best systems, their teams will always do better. At the moment, our system is only at the whim of one person. You will only get a board as good or bad as its chairman.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 3^rd, 2010.