PCB forms committee for players’ clearance

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)  has formed a six-member Integrity Committee for clearance of the players for selection here on Saturday. The committee will be headed by PCB chairman Ijaz Butt. Director PCB Zakir Khan told a TV channel that before the selection of a national team the Integrity Committee would ensure that the players are not involved in any indiscipline. A player will be eligible for inclusion in any squad after he is cleared by the committee.
Members of the committee, headed by Ijaz, are Zakir, Sultan Rana, Mohsin Khan, Major Najam and Colonel Waseem Ahmed. Zakir said that the work is in progress for forming the domestic anti-corruption committee, which would be announced later

Butt hires law minister in bid to clear name

Suspended Pakistan batsman Salman Butt has vowed to prove his innocence over allegations of spot-fixing on the recent tour of England. The 26-year-old was suspended along with bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir after they were charged with offences under the anti-corruption code of conduct last month. The ICC suspended them following revelations by News of the World and investigations by police into allegations of spot-fixing during the Lord's Test against England in August. The trio appealed against the suspension earlier this month, and an ICC code of conduct commission was due to hear their appeals on October 30 and 31 in Doha, Qatar, but the hearing was moved to Dubai after Asif withdrew his appeal.

Butt, who was Pakistan's Test captain until he was suspended, pleaded innocence. ''We are innocent and have to fight our case on our own,'' he told Pakistan's Geo television. ''The first and the foremost thing is to fight this case out, and I am eager to do that.''
The Pakistan Cricket Board reportedly withdrew support for the players and directed them to fight the case on their own. Last week, the PCB also barred the trio from using practice facilities at the national cricket academy while their case was ongoing.

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Butt said it was for the accuser to prove the case. ''The onus is on them to prove. A player's career is of 10 to 15 years, and if he is suspended it is cut short, so whatever doubts are there we have to remove them,'' said Butt, who refused to comment directly on the allegations. He said he did not know why Asif had withdrawn his appeal.
''It may be strategic or maybe because of financial reasons, but he must have taken this decision after consulting with his lawyer,'' Butt said. Butt has hired former federal law minister Khalid Ranja as his lawyer and will proceed to Dubai with him next week.

Malik wants to fight for justice

Former Pakistan cricket captain Salim Malik has threatened to expose the truth behind the match-fixing inquiry report that came out about 10 years ago. Malik was banned for life on the recommendations of the one-man inquiry tribunal headed by Justice (retd) Malik Qayyum in 2000 while five other

players were let off with fines as the tribunal didn't find sufficient evidence to ban them.

"Why was I made the scapegoat, it is a travesty of justice that the other players who were named, suspected and questioned in the match fixing inquiry are now all holding prime cricket positions," he said.

The 47-year old Malik, who leads a secluded life, said in an interview that it pains him to see Waqar Younis coaching the Pakistan team or Mushtaq Ahmed coaching the England team and Akram Reza working as a first class umpire in Pakistan.

"They were all named in the inquiry. And if the findings were correct then how are they holding official positions now?" asked Malik in a television interview.

He said that he would fight for justice as even Justice Qayyum had admitted on a talk show that he didn't have enough evidence to ban him (Malik).

"He (Justice Qayyum) admitted he punished me on the will of some strong cricket personalities and legends.

"I have become an outcast in society and I have suffered a lot in the last 10 years because of the ban. I want to know why I was targeted," Malik said.

The former batsman who played 103 Tests and 283 One-Day Internationals has broken his silence in the midst of a fresh spot-fixing scandal that has hit Pakistan cricket.

Test captain Salman Butt and pace bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir are all presently serving provisional suspension by the International Cricket Council for allegedly agreeing to bowl pre-determined no balls in the fourth Test against England in August.

Malik has made several appeals in the lower and higher courts against his life ban but it still remains. As a result of which he cannot hold any official position or job in the PCB nor can he openly take part in coaching or other cricketing activities authorised and recognised by the PCB or ICC.

Intikhab hopes for tough fight against Proteas

ABU DHABI: Pakistan cricket team has arrived here in United Arab Emirates (UAE), meanwhile, manager national team Intikhab Alam has hoped that spot-fixing allegations would not influence performance of the players, Geo News reported.
Players are positive and have the necessary potential to give a very tough time to world class South Africans, he said.
Three Test, five ODIs and two T20I matches will be played during the Pakistan-turned UAE tour.
First T20I, to be played on October 26, is meant for raising donations for flood-affectees.
Talking to newsmen at Lahore airport, manager Intikhab Alam appeared hopeful of team’s commitment for victory on the tour.

ICC probes Suresh Raina's 'links' with bookie

 

The ICC Anti-Corruption and Security Unit is probing why the Indian Board kept quiet about a report of its player Suresh Raina being seen in the company of a woman linked to an associate of an illegal bookmaker, a media report said in London.

Making it clear that Raina was not suspected of any wrongdoing, 'The Sunday Times', quoting a senior ICC source, said the incident related to India's tour of Sri Lanka earlier this year.
With the heightened security concerns following the 2009 terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team in Pakistan, the Sri Lankans deputed a former general to look after the Indian team.
CCTV Cameras installed at the Indian team hotel showed that on more than one night Raina was in the company of a woman known to be an associate of a man allegedly linked to a bookmaker.
A report, including the CCTV footage, was submitted by the Sri Lankan Cricket Board to their Indian counterparts

Withdrawal not because of incriminating evidence: Asif

Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif on Saturday clarified that he had withdrawn his appeal to lift the provisional suspension as he got the documents late from the ICC and not because there was incriminating evidence against him in the spot fixing scandal.
Asif said further steps in the matter will be taken after his lawyers go through the details of the documents provided by the sport's world governing body.
Asif surprised the cricket world yesterday by withdrawing his challenge to the ICC suspension, which was due to be heard later this month in Doha, Qatar.
"I simply decided to withdraw my appeal for now because we got the complete documents relating to the matter late from the ICC and my lawyers want to make a proper and detailed case to the allegations and suspension," Asif said.
"I have not given up my intentions of challenging these allegations against me. I am innocent and I have done nothing wrong. We will file a detailed explanation not only against the suspension but the spot fixing allegations too.
The reports (incriminating evidence against him) are untrue. We made the decision because the lawyers need more time to contest the case," the pacer added.
Asif, who got married recently, returned from London after meeting with his lawyers.
The ICC announced yesterday that Asif had withdrawn his challenge to the provisional suspension imposed on him on September 2 pending determination of the charges brought against him under the ICC's Anti-Corruption Code.
Asif, fellow pace bowler Muhammad Aamir and Test captain Salman Butt were banned from playing by the ICC for allegedly agreeing to bowl deliberate no balls in the fourth Test against England in August. Aamir and Butt are still appealing their bans.
"I have got married recently and I am starting a new life. The advise I got was that not to rush things and take time in dealing with these issues," he said.
"I am confident I will make a comeback to Pakistan cricket. It has given me a lot," the pacer said.
The ICC also announced that following Asif's withdrawal, the hearing of the appeals of Butt and Aamir would now be held in Dubai on the same dates of October 30 and 31st.
The hearing was first scheduled in Doha because Asif is banned from entering the UAE state of Dubai as he was arrested and kept in detention for 19-days at the Dubai airport in 2008 for possession of Marijuana.
Although no criminal charges were brought against him, he was barred from entering Dubai

ICC happy with PCB's initial response on anti-corruption

International Cricket Council on Saturday expressed satisfaction by the initial response from Pakistan Cricket Board after the threat to impose sanctions if it did not take robust anti-corruption measures to clean up cricket. ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said after a meeting of the members of

We are encouraged by the excellent progress reported and also the willingness of PCB to embrace ICC recommendations. However, we can never be complacent nor distracted in our determination to tackle corruption," Lorgat said in a statement. Pakistan Task Team via teleconference call that the world body was satisfied by the PCB's reponse."The ICC Task Team was mindful of the challenges faced by PCB and is committed to support Pakistan playing international cricket, but recognised the importance of rooting out corruption from the sport. It also fully endorsed the stated policy of zero-tolerance towards corruption in order to ensure the integrity of cricket," he said.
ICC Director Giles Clarke, as chairman of the PTT, was joined by members of the task team as well as PCB chairman Ijaz Butt and PCB Senior General Manager Cricket Operations (International), Subhan Ahmed, and advised the members of the additional responsibilities of the group following the ICC Board meeting.
These include raising awareness of anti-corruption issues among international players, particularly those from Pakistan' to support Pakistan cricket in the urgent development and delivery of anti-corruption policies, processes and education; to support PCB in reviewing its structures and making reforms necessary to restore confidence in the administration of the game in Pakistan and to protect the integrity of international cricket by enforcing the stated zero-tolerance approach.
The PTT received an update on the agreed measures that the PCB has already started to introduce. The task team meeting reminded the PCB of its agreement to encourage all its players to come forward and disclose to the Anti-Corruption and Safety Unit any relevant information which will be treated as strictly confidential.
Pakistan Task Team chairman Clarke said, "The task team urged everyone to support the PCB to reform its cricket and governance models and the important role Ijaz Butt has to play in this regard. An independent board would help it to regain its glory and ensure long-term success."
PCB chairman Butt said, "We are grateful to the ICC for its advice and support in these challenging times. Rest assured that Pakistan cricket has no tolerance for any players or officials who are found to be corrupt and will make the tough decisions necessary."

Salman Butt vows to prove innocence

Suspended Pakistan batsman Salman Butt Saturday vowed to prove his innocence over allegations of spot-fixing on the recent tour of England.
The 26-year-old was suspended along with bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir after they were charged with offences under the anti-corruption code of conduct last month.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) suspended them following revelations by British tabloid The News of the World and subsequent investigations by police into allegations of spot-fixing during the Lord’s Test against England in August.
The trio appealed against the suspension earlier this month and an ICC code of conduct commission was due to hear their appeals on October 30 and 31 in Doha, Qatar, but the hearing was moved to Dubai after Asif withdrew his appeal.
Butt pleaded innocence in the case. “We are innocent and have to fight our case on our own,” Salman told a private television channel.
“The first and the foremost thing is to fight this case out and I am eager to do that.”
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) reportedly withdrew support for the players and directed them to fight the case on their own.
Earlier this week the PCB also barred the trio from using practice facilities at the national cricket academy while their case was ongoing.
Butt said it was for the accuser to prove the case. “The onus is on them to prove. A player’s career is of 10 to 15 years and if he is suspended it is cut short, so whatever doubts are there we have to remove them,” said Butt, who refused to comment directly on the allegations.
He said he did not know why Asif had withdrawn his appeal. “It may be strategic or maybe because of financial reasons, but he must have taken this decision after consulting with his lawyer,” said Butt of Asif, who hired British lawyer Elizabeth Robertson.
Butt has hired former federal law minister Khalid Ranja as his lawyer and will proceed to Dubai with him next week.