Pakistan National Assembly’s Standing Committee for Sports has asked the government to dissolve the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) following the latest “match-fixing” scandal to hit the country’s team.
“Our committee has unanimously recommended to dissolve the Pakistan Cricket Board, and if it is not done we will collectively resign from this committee,” the Dawn quoted Iqbal Mohammad Ali, chairman of the sports committee, as saying.
“We also demand that the government call back the team’s manager and coaches immediately and send new management (to England) to handle the crisis,” he added.
Ali further said that the parliamentary committee would convene a special meeting to discuss the issue, and would hold its own inquiry into the controversy. “We have also asked the government to take legal action against the players involved and send them to jail,” he added.
The parliamentary sports committee has repeatedly sought PCB chairman Ijaz Butt’s removal in recommendations to President and PCB patron Asif Ali Zardari.
However, Zardari has ignored the demand.
In the most sensational sporting scandal ever, a British tabloid has been claimed that Pakistan fast bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif had delivered three no-balls to order.
According to the News of the World, London-based agent Mazhar Majeed is the alleged man behind the 150,000-pound betting scam. The tabloid claims that they have footage of Majeed accepting money, and in return, he detailed what would happen and when on the field of play next day.
It also claims that Majeed had identified Pakistan captain Salman Butt as the ringleader. He also named wicket keeper Kamran Akmal, and a total of seven corrupt cricketers.