Will the axe fall on tainted Pak players today?

Are the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) headed for a collision course on the latest scandal? Indications are that the spot-fixing scam has ruptured the relationship between the apex body and PCB.

There are also reports of ego clashes between the two bodies. While the ICC wants decisive and prompt action from the Pakistan side, the PCB has so far not shown any urgency.

At the time of going to press, a meeting between ICC chief Haroon Lorgat and PCB chairman Ejaz Butt was under way. The meeting was expected to be used by the ICC chief executive to send out a strong message to the Pakistan officials. It is understood that Lorgat would try to impress upon Butt the need to act swiftly on the matter.

However, the PCB has called its legal advisor to London to deal with the matter. It is not known if the PCB will comply with the ICC’s demands but it is unlikely that Ejaz Butt & Co will be able to shield the three players — Salman Butt, Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif —  for too long.

So the fate of the trio, at the centre of spot-fixing controversy, could depend on the outcome of the meeting. However, it is most likely that the axe will fall on them in the next 24 hours. Lorgat has already said that he expected some progress in the matter by Thursday. It can, perhaps, be construed that the decision will be announced anytime.

On Wednesday, the three players reached London where they are expected to face questioning which could lead to them being sent home in disgrace from the team’s tour of England. The trio left the team hotel in Taunton accompanied by team security officer Major Khawaja Najam, flanked by private security guards and police officers. Butt shook his head when asked by a reporter if he was “guilty”.

The trio will face questions from Butt and Wajid Shamsul Hasan, Pakistan’s high commissioner (ambassador) to Britain, in London on Thursday. “The boys will have a meeting at the high commission (embassy) tomorrow (Thursday),” Pakistan team manager Yawar Saeed told reporters.

England’s players, meanwhile, are reportedly reluctant to line up against a Pakistan team containing the tainted trio, according to Professional Cricketers’ Association chief executive Angus Porter.

“The England players understand it is important the games go ahead and they will be professional but they would or will find it really difficult to play against the guys directly implicated,” Porter said.

Meanwhile, former captain Imran Khan does not approve of life bans and said limited sanctions and huge fines should be imposed on the cricketers for their criminal activities. Imran also feels the entire Pakistan team should not be banned for the criminal activities of a few national players.

“I think the ICC is going to take its own decision. But in my opinion, the message should go that the crime does not pay. For spot-fixing, bowling a no-ball they should suffer heavy on their pocket and be imposed a heavy fine than a life ban. It really should set an example and fine should be huge,” Imran said.

"It should be a proper ban that they should be out of cricket for a while but differentiate between the two. Once a team deliberately throws a match there is nothing but a life ban. Secondly one indulge in such way like spot betting that does not affect the out come of the game, they should suffer financially and limited ban, not a life ban. Otherwise how will we find out the spot betting,” Khan said.
With agency inputs