Ijaz Butt apologizes over erratic remarks, ECB accepts apology (Part 2)
The ECB, following remarks of the chairman PCB to an Indian television, after consultation with the team management and the England team had decided upon taking legal action against the chairman of the PCB. ECB felt Ijaz Butt had made accusations without
damning evidence against the England Cricket Board or the team.
Even if the chairman had come across some evidence he could have contacted the ICC through proper channels and the blatant accusation of match fixing on the England team had certainly left a bad taste in the mouth.
After the ECB had sent a pre action letter to Mr Butt, he decided to go to England to consult his lawyers and in what could be termed a welcome move on his part http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ijaz-Butt-c64128 has retracted his statement and issued an official apology to the England Cricket Board.
The England players have accepted the apology and have effectively withdrawn any threat of a legal action that certainly seemed on the cards had Mr. Butt not apologized and retracted his statement.
In a joint statement that has been issued by the PCB and ECB, Mr. Butt has accepted that he did not have any evidence to back his claims, which were completely uncalled for. He had repeated those claims to various media channels and he has regretted that
there had been a “misunderstanding” that ensued in the wake of his comments.
"I wish personally and on behalf of the Pakistan Cricket Board to withdraw the comments I made concerning the England and Wales Cricket Board and each of the England players who played in the one-day International at The Oval on Friday 17 September. It is
regrettable that there was a misunderstanding arising from my comments”.
He went on to state that he wished to make it sufficiently clear that in the statement that he made, he never intended to cast any doubts on the England players or the ECB. That he had no doubt about their impeccable behaviour and integrity, and did not
intend to suggest that any of those players have been involved in any corrupt practices or in any sort of conspiracy to defraud Pakistan cricket.
"In particular, I wish to make it clear that I have never seen any evidence of any wrongdoing by any England player or the ECB at any time", he added. "I deeply and sincerely regret that my statements have been interpreted to cast doubt upon the good names
of the England players and the ECB and hope that this public withdrawal will draw a line under the matter".
He also went on to acknowledge the extremely cooperative role of the ECB in providing support to Pakistan at a time where there were concerns that Pakistan would not be able to play at home due to security issues. The ECB had gone out of their way to accommodate
Pakistan and he also acknowledged Giles http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120’s effort of having plans in place for a similar series to take place in England sometime next year.
However, he did not comment on his idiosyncrasies that have resulted in Pakistan getting isolated in the International Cricketing arena with all plans for England being a neutral venue for Pakistan being called off.
He said that the ECB and its chairman Giles Clarke, have been great friends of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755, and have always been very supportive of the country’s cricket. He said that he was grateful for their hospitality in the summer and that the PCB like all the other cricket
boards were committed to a policy of zero tolerance of corruption and would work hard together with the relevant authorities to help eradicate it completely.
"The ECB and the England players who played at The Oval warmly welcome this withdrawal and now regard the matter closed", the statement said in the very end.
Following the statement, Giles Clarke has said that he will continue his role as the head of the ICC Pakistan task team chairman.
In cricket, there is a saying that ‘all is well, that ends well’ and this certainly seems to have a happy ending to an incredibly acrimonious summer.
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