PCB rules out immediate return of tainted duo
27 Aug 2015 11:04 PM GMT
The Pakistan Cricket Board has ruled out an immediate first-class return for the tainted duo of Salman Butt and Muhammad Asif, saying that they would have to attend further anti-corruption rehabilitation programs to regain the PCB’s trust.
Najam Sethi, Chairman of the PCB’s influential executive committee, said the Board had planned special rehabilitation programs for the two players whose spot-fixing bans expire on September 1, allowing them to return to cricket. Sethi revealed that there were lots of players including some members of the Pakistan team, who were not happy that Butt, Asif or Mohammad Aamir should be rehabilitated back to top cricket. “I don’t think they have to go into first class cricket <g data-gr-id="33">straightaway</g> when the ban ends. They will have to attend the rehabilitation program of the PCB for two to three months,” Sethi said on Geo Super channel. “We had written to the ICC seeking clarification on some points and they have in reply left it to the PCB to complete the rehabilitation process of these players.”
Asked about the players who were not happy to see the tainted trio coming back, Sethi declined to take names but said even former Test captain Ramiz Raja had mentioned this in a recent column. “Obviously we have to talk to these players, convince them and give them time to develop trust once again in the players coming back. The PCB itself needs to be very sure that they wouldn’t repeat the past because what happened in 2010 in England was very embarrassing and damaging for Pakistan cricket,” Sethi said.
PCB to launch logo of long-awaited PSL next month
The Pakistan Cricket Board said it would launch the official logo of its much-delayed Twenty20 Super League on September 19. A top official, however, said a decision on the venue for hosting the five-team franchise tournament would be taken in two weeks time.
“We have two options either hold the PSL as planned in February in Doha or wait until April and host it in Dubai and other venues in the UAE,” he said. He said a recent visit to Dubai to meet the officials there to discuss the use of venues had failed to yield results since in February the Masters championship was being held in Dubai.
“They have given us the option of hosting it in April. Our delegation also went to Qatar where their national Olympic committee and cricket association were very welcoming and keen to host the PSL.“Qatar is staging major international events <g data-gr-id="66" style="color: #3b3b3b; font-size: 11px; background-color: white;">now</g> but cricket has remained out of their calendar but now they want cricket as well and their officials assured us they would offer all cooperation and help to make the PSL a big success in Qatar,” the official said. “Their Olympic committee and cricket association also told us they have got government permission to have the PSL with us,” he said. The PCB official also ruled out any chances of the PSL being put off for a third time in three years’ time.
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