Sports

Trio’s central contracts suspended

Contracts of Butt, Aamir, and Asif suspended in line with International Cricket Council's anti-corruption code.

Fawad Hussain November 03, 2010

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) added more misery on Salman Butt, Mohammd Asif and Mohammad Amir as it suspended the trio’s central contracts with effect from November 1.

The PCB Director Operations Zakir Khan confirmed to The Express Tribune that the central contracts of the players facing the International Cricket Council (ICC) suspension on allegations of spot-fixing have been suspended after they failed in their appeal.

Salman and Asif were awarded the ‘A’ category contracts while Amir was included in the ‘B’ category. Defending the PCB’s move, the board’s legal advisor Tafazzul Rizvi said it became mandatory for the PCB to remove the trio from the list after they failed in their appeal against the ban.

“Since their appeals have been dismissed it became mandatory for us to remove them from the list as they are facing a corruption case,” Rizvi told The Express Tribune. “The players are being offered contracts for their services and in their case, the PCB cannot get their services in the near future because of their suspensions.”

‘Amir’s reaction not unusual’

Defending Amir’s outburst against the ICC, the fast-bowler’s lawyer believed that the comments came naturally as a reaction to his appeal being dismissed.

Amir, along with Salman, accused the sport’s governing body of conspiring against Pakistan cricket after their appeals against the provisional suspension were rejected following a two-day hearing in Dubai this week.

According to reports, the ICC had taken notice of their remarks while the PCB also expressed its discontent at the outburst, calling the comments uncalled-for and ‘irresponsible’ besides warning the duo of a possible action by the ICC.

Amir’s lawyer Shahid Karim, however did not agree with the board’s counsel.

“Amir just gave version in his defence on charges put against him,” Karim told The Express Tribune. “It was just a reaction and was not unusual as it can be expected from anyone going through the phase Amir is in these days. I don’t think the ICC would take any further action on the players based on their reaction which was natural.”

The lawyer, however, advised Amir to refrain from making further comments on the issue.

“We should focus on our case and should not waste time in making comments on the issue till it is resolved.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 4^th, 2010.

COMMENTS (1)

Nazir Habib | 13 years ago | Reply Night and day we want to become the glory hunters not by hook but by crook. Whether it's the chairman PCB, umpires, TV umpires and most importantly of all the PLAYERS. The contracts should not only be suspended but CANCELLED and they should be sent home. Let them revert to playing 'gilli dunda' in their gullies. The name of Pakistan is very, very important and no more traps and scandals are acceptable to the citizens. We always arouse public sympathy by looking ruesome and forlorn and say we are innocent. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. Let us behave and play like sportsmen with decency and common courtesies. Let us set an example by annulling their contracts, no matter the age, and get on with the sport. This will be a signifying antecedent. Please let us remenber not to make comparisions between teams like sledging, jumping wildly or make aggressive animations with the arms when a batsmen is out. A smile, pat on the back and a word of encouragement should suffice. "Change is inevitable, dont resist it". With salams and best wishes.

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