PCB won’t challenge ICC Tribunal’s bans imposed on Pak tainted trio, says Butt

KARACHI - The Pakistan Cricket Board will not appeal against the Anti-Corruption Tribunal bans imposed on the tainted trio- Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir- for proven spot-fixing charges against them, PCB chief Ijaz Butt has said.

“The PCB does not have the jurisdiction to challenge the bans on these three players because this is a matter directly between the players and the International Cricket Council (ICC) anti-corruption tribunal,” SAMAA TV quoted Butt, as telling a news agency.

The independent Anti-Corruption Tribunal appointed by the ICC to hear into the spot-fixing case had found the Pakistani trio guilty of corruption and imposed a ten-year ban on Butt, a seven-year one on Asif and a five-year ban on Amir on Saturday.

Former ICC president Ehsan Mani criticised the PCB for the way it handled the spot-fixing issue after the scandal broke last year, and called for Butt’s resignation.

“I think the PCB failed to handle this issue properly and didn’t bother to guide the players at all. While the bans were necessary to discourage corruption in cricket I think Ijaz Butt also morally should resign immediately,” Mani said.

Former Test captain Moin Khan backed the Tribunal’s decision in the case, but at the same time admitted that it was a shameful day for Pakistan cricket.

“It is really sad for Pakistan cricket that we have to face such embarrassment but at the same time I support the ICC tribunal decision because these players have brought shame to Pakistan and world cricket,” Moin said.

Former Test pace bowler Sarfraz Nawaz said the bans were a lesson for the future generation of cricketers.

“If players do corruption they must not be spared. Obviously the ICC anti-corruption unit was able to convince the tribunal with their evidence against the players,” Sarfraz said.

Cricket fans across Pakistan also said that they felt the bans were harsh but justified. (ANI)