Where are the people who supported Big Three for India series, asks Aamir Sohail

Former captain asks even if the series materialises who would assure the correct use of money earned from it

Former Pakistan captain and now a well-versed commentator, Aamir Sohail, has questioned the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over their support for the ‘Big Three’ which was supposed to garner a Pakistan-India series.

Aamir was critical of the people running the show in the PCB calling the board’s support to India, Australia and England an attempt ‘to fool the Pakistani fans’.

“The Indo-Pak series now appears to be a lost cause but really, we should be putting questions about the fate of this series to the people who went out of their way to lend their unconditional support to the Big 3,” wrote Aamir in his blog for PakPassion.

“We were then told that Pakistan were assured of many series with India as if this was the price of our support. We were also told that PCB would be rich by a few billion dollars. These were tall claims made by people who now run PCB and these people should be asked some serious questions about what’s happened to those claims now and was that simply an attempt to fool the Pakistani fans?”

Aamir further questioned the proper use of the earned money if, somehow, the Pakistan-India series did materialise.

“Make no mistake, I have no qualms about playing India – if the series happens then that would be fine but there is one important question here,” wrote Aamir.

“We have played India a few times in the past and undoubtedly earned money but what has the game of cricket in Pakistan gained from these funds? Was it beneficial for First-Class cricket in Pakistan or was the game of cricket improved at the grassroots level? What makes us think that new monies from more series against India will be used any differently?”

Case of bread and butter for the tainted trio

Aamir also wrote about the return of Muhammad Amir, Muhammad Asif and Salman Butt to competitive cricket.

“I am quite clear on this issue. It is simply a case of cricket being bread and butter for the three players,” he wrote.

“That is how they earn their living and yes, they made a mistake but they have been punished and have also served their ban period, so they deserve another chance. The ICC is allowing them to continue to pursue their career which is great but make no mistake, their entry into the Pakistan team is not a given based on their past performances.”

Same treatment for the trio

Aamir was of the view that Asif and Butt should be treated equal to Amir by the PCB.

“It would have been grossly unfair for the ICC to give any preferential treatment to Mohammad Amir instead or at the expense of Salman and Asif,” explained Aamir.

“In that respect, the ICC has taken the right decision. It is quite clear that PCB have been taken aback by the ICC allowing all three players back into the fold at the same time. There is a story behind the PCB favoring Mohammad Amir’s early return to cricket but unfortunately, I cannot elaborate on that at the moment but people are free to read between the lines.”