Match
Fixing News
PCB to restrain players from speaking on match-fixing
KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) might resort to its Code of
Conduct for players to prevent them from going to the international and
national press armed with sensational stuff regarding the match-fixing
and betting issues. This correspondent has learnt that Board Chairman Khalid
Mahmood is particularly worried that the two former Pakistan captains,
Aamer Sohail and Rashid Latif, might resort to going to the international
and national press with details about the match-fixing and betting saga
and this could cause major embarrassment for the Board and also hurt the
team's campaign to regain the World Cup.
Mahmood's concern is based on the fact that Sohail and Latif have both
been dropped for the World Cup and with the judicial Commission inquiring
into the match-fixing and betting charges also unlikely to wrap up its
proceedings before the World Cup, they in frustration could try to make
it an international issue to
embarrass the Board. The Board Chairman has reason to be concerned,
following the leaking out of the testimonies made by former and present
players before the judicial commission, to
an Indian publication on the eve of the Asian Test Championship match
in Calcutta last month. Mahmood it is understood is sure the leakage was
done by those who are least bothered about the damage being done to the
team and Pakistan cricket because of
the match-fixing allegations and only want to ensure the judicial commission
submits its recommendations to the government much before the World Cup
to create a fuss. In this background, sources say he has indirectly conveyed
to Sohail and Latif the Board would invoke the Code of Conduct for players
and discipline them if they try to go to the international and national
press with damaging statements. The interesting thing is that the player's
Code of Conduct imposed by the Board is only binding for three month's
after a player has last played for Pakistan. Sohail's last appearance was
against Zimbabwe in early December, while Latif represented Pakistan 'A'
in New Zealand in late November.
Back
