.
Zaheer Abbas, a former captain and manager of the Pakistan team, said the country’s cricket board had let down the players and a nation of fans by not working to stamp out corruption earlier, despite years of allegations.
He said ordinary people would be shocked at the length of the bans.
“The thing is, for us Pakistanis, cricket is something we love. Now after these bans – 10 years, seven years, five years – people will stop loving it so much. And for what? Just two no-balls,” he said. “It seems very harsh.”
Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram admitted that the lengthy bans handed out to Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir represented a new low for the sport in the country.
“I feel sad for all three of these kids, two just over 20 and one just 18,” Wasim said. “I feel for their families because they are key players. This is a low for Pakistan cricket.
