Ban on Pakistani Players – An Analysis

 

Anti corruption tribunal has awarded punishment of ban to three Pakistani cricketers. Salman Butt has been awarded punishment of 10 years ban, Muhammad Asif 7 years ban and Muhammad Amir has been awarded 5 years ban. This is heartbreaking moment for Pakistan cricket because of ban on bowlers like Muhammad Amir and Muhammad Asif and people of Pakistan have there concerns regarding this punishments. The reason is that these players are involved in spot fixing and the punishment which has been awarded to them is of Match fixing which is a most awful shape of corruption in

 cricket.  Head of tribunal Michael Beloff has also said that he will recommend ICC to make necessary changes in the law for punishment of spot fixing as Match fixing and Spot Fixing are different crimes. He was in favour of less punishment because of crime of spot fixing, but there is no punishment fixed for sport fixing in cricket code of conduct yet.  Beside these, South African board had awarded 6 months ban to Harshell Gibs and West Indies board had award 2 years ban punishment to Marlin Samuel for charges of underperforming. Infact underperforming is equal to match fixing charges. But ICC was hushed on these punishments.  It was the duty of ICC at that time to interfere in the case of Herschelle Gibbs and  Marlon Samuel but ICC did not take action. It means that ICC was agreed with punishment of these players, then why Pakistani players not treated equally to those players.  This inconsistent attitude is making concerns in minds of Pakistan cricket fans.

In light of tribunal head Michael Beloff statement, there is a need for ICC to amend the law for spot fixing punishment and implement this law on Pakistani players as soon as possible.

Beside all the losses for Pakistan cricket, this case is a positive sign for Pakistan cricket too. In past some Pakistani players had broken discipline codes regularly because of non serious attitude of PCB. So many times PCB had taken U turn after awarding punishment to players for discipline. This U turn from PCB encouraged players to ignore discipline codes. But after this strict action from ICC all players in general and Pakistan players in particular will take care of discipline code which is a positive message for cricket lovers.