Easing back: PCB announces plan for Asif, Butt and Amir’s reintegration

National cricket body draws up programme for the tainted trio

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday announced its policy on the reintegration of the three banned cricketers Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir into Pakistan cricket.

The International Cricket Council had given the green signal to Asif and Butt to return to competitive cricket with effect from September 2, 2015, subject to fulfilment of the conditions laid down by the independent anti-corruption tribunal.

The PCB, after seeking clarification and considering a number of factors that have a direct bearing on the team, has devised a rehabilitation plan for smooth integration of the three players into cricket.

“We had to consider the effect of an immediate induction of these players into cricket, the acceptability of these players amongst their fellow cricketers, the anticipated negative slogans at the grounds from cricket fans and its effect on the other players and the banned players’ own strength to deal with these pressures,” said PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan.

All three players will work with the PCB’s Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Department from August 26 to September 1 to prepare lectures to be delivered to the players in all 16 regions from September 2 to October 30.

From September 2 onwards, the three would start practicing regularly at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore — except when Pakistan national players practice to avoid any untoward incident. The players will be able to use the NCA facilities at will once the rehabilitation programme is completed.

Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt will start playing district level and club cricket once the ban ends, while all three players will have to maintain fitness standards and achieve the level-11 of the bleep test for three consecutive months of September, October and November 2015.

Additionally, all three would be required to pay regular visits to Edhi homes, orphanages and places like Army Public School, Peshawar in order to publicly contribute towards social responsibility obligations from September 5 to December 31.

The trio was also directed to attend integration sessions with bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed and national team members in order to foster acceptability for probable future congenial environment in the dressing room in first-class/international engagements.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 27^th,  2015.

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