PCB Promises to Stamp Out Corruption

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has vowed to prevent corruption from the sport in the country following the jailing of three of the national team’s key players  who were  convicted of participating in a ‘spot-fixing’ scam.

Former captain Salman Butt received a 30-month sentence 30, and bowler Mohammad Asif receiveds given a one-year term after they were found guilty by a London court earlier this week. Mohammad Amir was given a six-month jail term after pleading guilty while agent Mazhar Majeed, the alleged ‘fixer’ was jailed for two years and eight months after pleading guilty. All four will serve half of their sentences before being eligible for parole.

Butt and Asif were found guilty on Tuesday of deliberately bowling three no-balls during the Lord’s Test match against England in August 2010. The International Cricket Council has already indicated it will investigate evidence linked to other players that became apparent during the trial. The PCB, said in a statement the sentences were part of “a sad day for cricket in the country”.

PCB spokesman Nadeem Sarwar said: “Instead of having pride in playing for their country, these players chose to disappoint their supporters, damage the image of their country and bring the noble game of cricket into disrepute. There is little sympathy in Pakistan for the sorry pass they have come to. (The) PCB is determined to ensure that any form of corrupt behaviour from Pakistan cricket is stamped out.”

The ICC sent anti-corruption directives to the PCB in October 2010, and the national body said it has made progress in discouraging young players away from corruption. “Training courses under PCB education program upgraded for all players and particularly younger entrants into international cricket to inform them of the law and spirit of the game, the inducements that may be offered to them by unscrupulous elements, and the pitfalls associated with deviant behaviour,” the PCB said in a statement.

The PCB has brought in a stricter code of conduct and a new registration system for player agents. The statement said: “These are just some of the measures being contemplated by the PCB. More would follow as and when the need arises. Ridding Pakistan cricket of any possible corrupt behaviour will remain a high priority for the PCB. The PCB will also work closely with the ICC and its member Boards in ensuring that the game of cricket globally is made totally free from the taint of corruption.”