The PCB's efforts to clean up Pakistan cricket
Considering the calls by the International Cricket Council (ICC) that Pakistan cricket put its house in order, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has started operation clean-up in a move to rid the national sport of the menace of match-fixing. The spot-fixing
scandal which rocked http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 cricket not only harmed the image of cricket throughout the world but also damaged the credibility of the PCB.
It was poor management on the part of the PCB which led to the spot-fixing fiasco that engulfed three top Pakistani players Salman Butt, Muhammad Aamir and Muhammad Asif. Wicketkeeper Zulqurnain Haider, who fled to UK after alleging that he received death
threats, was another example of the failure of management.
The national cricket team was thrown into turmoil upon their return from the tour of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 at the start of the year, when seven players were punished on disciplinary grounds. Interestingly all the players were cleared by a PCB tribunal irrespective of
the charges against them. If proper steps were taken by the PCB to address the matter then, the results would have been different.
Team manager Intikhab Alam, who was coaching the side during the Australian tour, raised many concerns in his statements in front of the investigation committee constituted to evaluate the failure of the Pakistan team during that tour. He revealed many facts
which were ignored by the PCB, and this was the reason why things turned out as they did.
Pakistan cricket was already reeling from the events of the past few months, and the revelations in England, when bookmaker http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mazhar-c75448 Majeed revealed the names of more players in his latest video telecast in the Pakistani media. As per ICC instructions, the
PCB barred many other players including Kamran Akmal, Shoaib Malik, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Danish-Kaneria-c1314 and Imran Farhat from participating in international cricket.
The ICC then approved a series of measures, which were considered necessary to restore the governing body’s confidence in the PCB. The board was given a 30-day deadline to implement the measures. At the expiration of this deadline the ICC expressed its satisfaction
over the efforts of the PCB.
In accordance with the ICC’s guidelines, the Pakistan Cricket Board introduced a revised code of conduct for stricter implementation of anti-corruption laws against its players.
All players with central contracts signed this new code before leaving for the UAE series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 in October. This code of conduct focused on creating awareness among players about anti-corruption laws and regulations.
The PCB introduced a new system for players to hire agents or managers to deal with their marketing matters, and made it mandatory for all players’ agents/managers to get clearance certificates from the board before signing any agreements with them.
According to the system if any player fails to comply with these instructions, he would be declared ineligible for selection for any domestic or international cricket events.
Also a six member integrity committee was set up for the clearance of players, to help the selection committee in their selection procedure. This committee is headed by PCB Chairman Ejaz Butt, but the ICC Task force for Pakistan advised the PCB to appoint
a retired judge as the committee head for transparent and impartial decisions.
The PCB initiated an anti-corruption awareness programme for cricketers at the domestic level. In this process, PCB security manager Waseem Ahmed is delivering lectures at all thirteen regions of the board, and implementing steps to educate the players on
corruption and doping.
In addition, the PCB will arrange lectures with psychologists’ before the departure of the team to any country.
All these positive steps are welcomed by the ICC, but this requires constant checks and balances. PCB Chairman Ejaz Butt is not capable of keeping an eye on all the matters of the Board, and the appointment of Subhan Ahmad as new chief operating officer
may be helpful in this respect. He has been working with the PCB for the past 16 years, and his experience will be supportive in implementing all the policies.
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