PCB pledges to eradicate corruption after stars are jailed

November 5, 2011

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has vowed to clamp down on corruption after three of the national team's top players were handed jail sentence for their role in a 'spot-fixing' scam.

Former national team captain Salman Butt was sentenced to 30 months and bowler Mohammad Asif was handed 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 so-called '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. However, the International Cricket Council has already indicated it will investigate evidence linked to other players that has emerged during the trial.

The PCB, which appointed Zaka Ashraf as its new chairman last week, admitted in a statement that the sentences represented "a sad day for cricket in the country".

PCB spokesman Nadeem Sarwar stated "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 last year, and the national body insisted it has already taken steps to steer younger players away from the darker aspects of the sport.

The PCB added in a statement "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 behavior.

"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."

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