Phones seized, players sent home: Match-fixing cloud hangs over Pakistan cricket again

Pakistan’s Babar Azam celebrates after taking a catch to dismiss England’s Ben Duckett during the second Test at Lord’s against England. (AP) NEW DELHI: The specter of match-fixing has come back to haunt the Pakistan cricket team and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) during the ongoing three-match Test series against England. After losing the second Test by 194 runs at Lord’s, the PCB decided to drop Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Imam-ul-Haq, Ali Usman, Khurram Shahzad, Aamir Jamal and Muhammad Awais Zafar. Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul have also been relieved of their duties.In their place, seven players were drafted into the squad, including five who had yet to make their international debut. The two limited-overs players are batsmen Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal, while the uncapped group consists of all-rounders Razaullah Khan and Mohammad Imran, left-arm spinner Arafat Minhas, wicketkeeper Saad Baig and left-arm pacer Mohammad Imran Junior.It was found that the drastic changes that had taken place in Pakistan cricket were due to reasons that were “more than cricket” and not just a result of the team’s dismal performances. We have sought input from the parties concerned, including hosts England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the PCB. After more than 72 hours we have not received any response.However, Amir Mir, PCB’s director of media and digital communications, issued a public statement: “The Pakistan Cricket Board has initiated an internal disciplinary investigation based on media reports regarding discipline and conduct, which are currently being reviewed internally. The PCB deals with such matters in accordance with its standard procedures. The process is conducted in accordance with PCB regulations and ensures that all individuals concerned are given due consideration.”According to Pakistani outlet 365 News, the players’ devices have been handed over to the PCB and will remain in the custody of the board until the conclusion of the final Test. The report did not disclose the identity of the players whose phones were seized, while the PCB did not publicly explain why the devices were taken into custody.

Every game of the series is important for us and we have no option left if a player does not perform but to look for his replacement. The purpose of these changes is not to remove the player from contention, but only to replace it

Mohsin Naqvi | PCB Chairman

A few days after making sweeping changes to the squad, PCB Director of High Performance Aaqib Javed launched a scathing attack on opening batsman Imam-ul-Haq, who suffered a nasty calf tear at Lord’s. Aaqib criticized the Imam for not batting in a single innings of the Lord’s Test and vowed to “take action” against him.“Imam’s injury is a big question mark and a deep disappointment. Players used to get injured in the past but they used to put on a cast and still try to play. We will take action against that. How is it possible that a pulled muscle has put you out of batting in both innings? He should have tried and fought. He will have to face a question about pulling a muscle, I can’t say it as a batting but he was fake completely,” Aaqib said in an interview to Pakistan Broadcasting Network Geo.Aqib also defended the number of changes that were made midway through the series. “The message we’re sending to the recalled players is that you have to step up your game on the big tours and compete and we should be able to see some effort,” he said.PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi echoed Aaqib Javed’s sentiments and vociferously defended their knee-jerk reaction. “Every match of the series is important for us and we are left with no option if a player is not performing but to look for his replacement. The purpose of these changes is not to remove the player from contention but only to replace them,” Naqvi told Geo Network.Incidentally, Lord’s was the scene of one of the biggest scandalous fixings in cricket and it involved the Pakistan cricket team. After that, captain Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were sentenced to prison terms and banned for taking bribes from a bookmaker to deliberately bowl balls at certain pre-arranged times during a 2010 Test match.

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