Cricket Special Edition: Caravan of pranksters
To command and to rule are biggest tactics of handling any crises because you can only control a situation, if you have a full command on it. Unfortunately, this summer spot-fixing controversy has caught fire as it has been revealed that too many cricket
administrators, present and past cricket players and above all the boards have played a vital role in the creation of such a shocking controversy.
Such kind of pathetic controversies have dogged many of the Pakistan’s tours of England for almost three decades. The reasons of such problems are really complicated but dominated by the weaknesses in Pakistan’s cricketing structure, a will not be walked
over, and extreme or unreasonable doubts of any Pakistani conduct by a weak proportion of the English media.
More tellingly, the video evidence regarding the Lord’s was really disturbing and immediate action was required. Lack of enthusiasm is always the part of Pakistan’s cricket board, as it was also shown in this controversy when the board suspended its three
players forced by the ICC to take action. But we cannot over look the events that have unfolded in the current period, as it has proved the failings of institutions and individuals across the world.
The response of ICC concerning the controversy was good, but it left everybody wondering what the ICC’s anti-corruption unit has been doing from the past 10 years? Is it true that an investigative journalist is more skilful and experienced than an international
unit?
When ICC started investigating the integrity of the third ODI and twenty two players without releasing any meaningful sign or proof, the impression was of an organization not working up to the mark. ICC needs to improve itself by removing faults and this
must be its top priority. A game governed by an organization weaker than its members will always face difficulties.
Without the immediate change the ICC will continue to lose its command of international cricket. The members of the board must bring someone with more experience and with greater powers.
Enough has been said about the PCB already but the bottom line is this that PCB’s unprofessional attitude and weakness in governing its own players and sport makes Pakistan cricket an easy target for dishonesty, depravity and condemnation.
PCB may not change until and unless the current Pakistan’s government changes but the ICC should demand minimum standards from its member back. Although the ICC itself is dysfunctional organization, therefore it’s not wrong to say that it should only impose
minimum standards on its members.
Pakistan Cricket Board must solve the issues by putting its house in order, which will be possible only if Ijaz Butt stops ruling the roost and must go.
It was said by the retired English cricketer and journalist Michael Atherton that http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ijaz-Butt-c64128 is a prankster and should be ignored. Butt’s harsh words against England’s cricketers don’t suit the chairman of a national cricket board. If Butt had evidence against
the England cricket team, he should have handed over to the ICC for investigation rather than blurting in front of national and international media.
Yet Butt is the part of distinguished pranksters. Ian Botham and Michael Vaughan have raised their opinion to ban http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755; a whole nation will suffer for unproven accusations against a handful of cricketers and the bleating of a known blusterer. Moreover,
Botham has a history of grudges with Pakistan.
Last but not least, a decent proportion of English media has remained considerate in its approach towards the Pakistan’s crisis throughout the summer scandal. It is even wrong to say that the “News of the World” has some envy against Pakistan, maybe if they
had discovered similar evidence against English cricketers they would have launched into the scandals with same relish because this is what the media business is all about.
A caravan of pranksters rushed through a desert of selfishness, passing an occasional oasis of sparkling cricket. It left heads spinning and hearts broken. At least we expect a sport to be governed properly. This game could be healed but not without reforming
the ICC and changing national boards like Pakistan’s.
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