Sports

Tainted trio will tarnish new Pakistan league's image: Ramiz

The crime committed by Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir is unforgivable, he said

Reuters September 23, 2015

PHOTO: SHAFIQ MALIK/ EXPRESS

LAHORE: Involving the tainted trio of Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir will be "extremely dangerous" for the reputation of the inaugural Pakistan Super League (PSL), former captain Ramiz Raja has said.

Former captain Butt and pacemen Asif and Amir were cleared by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to return to competitive cricket from September 2 after serving bans for a fixing scandal in 2010.

The trio have been put under strict monitoring by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and local media have ruled out an international return for any of them before February.

Read: Grant Elliot all set to join Pakistan Super League

The inaugural PSL, to be held in February in either United Arab Emirates or Doha, is likely to feature them but Raja feared it would be a setback for the image of the Twenty20 competition which will also feature players including Kevin Pietersen, Shakib Al Hasan and Dwayne Bravo.

"I have solid views regarding this matter. The crime committed by them is unforgivable," Ramiz, now a commentator, told a private news channel.

"I personally would never want them to be a part of the PSL as it is going to be extremely dangerous for the model of the event and image of Pakistan cricket."

He resented the trio being allowed to use Lahore's National Cricket Academy for their rehabilitation.

"They get special treatment at the NCA. They are provided with young players to train with, they get their clothes washed and have food at the academy. This is not acceptable," he said.

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Twenty20 leagues in India and Bangladesh have been hit by corruption scandals and Ramiz, who played 57 tests between 1984-1997, said PSL organisers must be vigilant against the menace.

"With involvement of money comes in the potential of corruption, but avoiding such circumstances totally depends on high quality management and organising skills."

COMMENTS (4)

Khalid Saeed | 9 years ago | Reply What a pathetic statement by Ramiz. We all know his personal opinion on this issue, but when he tries to impose it on state events such as PSL, it becomes too much. Perhaps it was not good idea at all to officially associate Ramiz with this event as he is not capable of differentiating between his personal thinking and task he has been given. Has he forgotten that Justice Qayyum in his report recommended Waseem Akram not to represent Pakistan? Now Waseem is icon for Pakistan cricket. Let at least Amir, who is talented bowler, should get a chance.

TIZ | 9 years ago | Reply I 100% agree with Ramiz, tainted trio MUST NOT be part of PSL. Stakes are very high, its an inaugural tournament, and shouldn't be seen as something controversial. Those three must not represent Pakistan at the highest level ever again.

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

Khan | 9 years ago | Reply Was that private channel DawnNews? :)

Sam | 9 years ago | Reply what about Nicky Boje, Gibbs, Warne, Healy, Mark Waugh, Lillee, Marsh, Dean Jones, Jadeja, Azhar, Waseem, Waqar, Mushtaq, Saqlain, Inzimam, Dhoni, Raina, and many un named current Indians, Samuels and so on....all these kept on playing in past or keeping on playing now even after fixing matches...ask Sri Lankan Board, ask impartial news agencies......fact is spot fixing is bad but they have served their jail terms ...what about these heralded bigger criminals some of whom you also played with.....????

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