PCB committee yet to clear trio

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Integrity Committee has failed to share its verdict on the three under-the-scanner players – former captain Shoaib Malik, wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal and leg-spinner Danish Kaneria – following a lengthy meeting that took place at the Gadaffi Stadium in Lahore.

The committee had scrutinised the details of the players’ properties and bank accounts but once again failed to come out with a decision on whether to clear the players.

According to the details, the committee had to finalise the issue in a bid to give the selection committee a go-ahead before it names the One-Day International and the provisional squad for the World Cup.

It is believed that the committee has reached a decision but will take the International Cricket Council (ICC) into confidence before sharing it.

The board needs to name its 30-man provisional squad by January 5 after it was given an extension to the deadline.

Pakistan A’s defeat
scrutinised

The committee also addressed concerns regarding Pakistan A’s defeat against Afghanistan in the semi-final of the Asian Games which was termed fixed by the head of an Islamabad cricket club. The committee also went over an argument that took place between captain Khalid Latif and wicket-keeper Naeem Anjum on the eve of the match that resulted in Anjum being dropped.

Hammed submits apology

Opening batsman Yasir Hameed, who in an interview to the News of the World, alleged that a lot of other Pakistani cricketers were also involved in match-fixing, submitted his written apology for the misconduct and vowed not to repeat such mistake that could disrupt the country’s name.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 31^st, 2010.