ICC Handover Spot Fixing Case to PCB

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has summoned spot-fixing hit duo Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif to attend an anti-corruption lecture. The ICC also banned the three players; Amir for five years, Asif for seven years with two years suspended and Salman for 10 years with five years suspended. Both the players are desperate to be allowed to play domestic cricket after lifting of the 5-year ban in spot-fixing case and have been receiving offers from various institutions but they are still waiting for PCB’s decision.

Amid legal rumblings, the PCB can’t hold the players back from playing after the ICC’s ban lifts on September 2, but they can be restricted to lower levels of the game while their prove form and complete their rehabilitation programme, which could take several months.

Newly-appointed global Cricket Council (ICC) president Zaheer Abbas had said earlier this week that the PCB should show flexibility and must be willing to play the series in India in order to ensure the revival of cricketing ties.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan has said the chances of a bilateral series with India taking place later this year were highly unlikely.

Media reports from Pakistan earlier this month claimed the PCB would begin the bidding process for selling team franchises in September, as well as broadcasting and merchandising rights.

“Their Olympic committee and cricket association also told us they have got government permission to have the PSL with us”, he said. “We do not have many options but those we do we will work on them”. “They can’t be allowed to play any national championship but can only be allowed to play the second-class cricket”.

The British police arrested the bookmaker and the players for their involvement.

Sethi revealed that there were lots of players including some members of the Pakistan team, who were not happy that Butt, Asif or Mohammad Amir should be rehabilitated back to top cricket. The point to understand is the public must accept them, and more importantly the other present players – many players expressed to us that they will not play with them.