PCB under pressure
Concerning the latest controversies surrounding Pakistan skipper Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mphammad Aamer to have been involved in a match fixing scandal, the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 Cricket Board has reportedly been asked by England Cricket Board to take strong action against the three suspects and to axe them from the Twenty20 and One Day International matches against England starting from Sunday at Cardiff.
The forcing intensity was further raised yesterday when the International Cricket Council governing body started persuading Chairman PCB, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ijaz-Butt-c64128 via an emergency teleconference to make certain that the three alleged players, as reported by News of the World to have been part of match fixing controversy, do not take part in the upcoming One Day series against the hosts, England.
Ijaz Butt, however was of the opinion that since the allegations have not been proved to be true as yet, no action would be taken against any of the alleged players in the Pakistan squad. He is reported to have told the local media that the board is waiting for a final result from the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Scotland-c756 Yard and the Intelligence agencies are working to resolve the issue and he cannot come to any conclusion until and unless a decision is taken by the concerned authorities.
Salman Butt, Asif and Aamer who had their cell phones confiscated a night after the incident took place, arrived at Taunton on Monday with the squad to take part in the training session starting from Tuesday at the Country ground, but were asked to leave back for London where they meet Chairman PCB, Ijaz Butt in a private session regarding the charges filed against the three. It is clear that Butt, who was never of the opinion to meet the alleged cricketers has suddenly changed his intention, as he is under a lot of pressure from ECB and ICC.
Sharad Pawar, President International Cricket Council said that ICC was waiting for British Police and ASCU to carry out their homework and once they are done, a report will be generated mentioning every minor detail of the activities that have surrounded the game for the past four days. ICC might take strict action against the three convicted players if the allegations are found to be true, with a minimum punishment of a ban of five years at least, but the final decision will be taken mutually by ICC and PCB over the issue. Former Pakistan Test skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Salim-c88143 Malik, has been the victim of a life ban following the match fixing issue, while offering ransom to some Australian players to lose their game against Pakistan.
It will be a tough task for Pakistan Cricket Board to come up with a strong team for the One Day International series if the three players are not allowed to take part in any playing activity, since they would be left behind with 13 players to choose from. If Kamran Akmal, whose name was present initially in the alleged players list, is also forced to sit back and watch, Pakistan will be left with no specialist wicketkeeper as young Zulqarnain Haider has been sent back home already, following an injury. Nevertheless, they still have Imran Farhat and spinner http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482 who arrived a day before at the hotel.
A large number of supporters outside The Oval cricket ground chanted slogans against Pakistan team by calling them ‘thieves’ and throwing eggs and tomatoes over team’s official transport bus. Pakistan cricket team supporters back in Pakistan are thoroughly disappointed and deeply saddened after allegations placed over their star players at a time when their country is in a terrible situation due to the recent flood disaster. Many of them have not yet waited for a final call from Scotland Yard and have developed a large hatred zone for players who once used to be their idols.
Tags: