Islamabad: Former Pakistan cricket coach Richard Pybus has slammed Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ijaz Butt for dragging the nation ‘down further’ instead of ‘acting swiftly’ to protect its reputation in the wake of the spot-fixing scandal.
“Anything and everything that could happen to rubbish Pakistan cricket's name, has happened. ... my best wishes and hopes have been dashed on the rocks of a match fixing scandal… Through all of this, the Chairman of the PCB (Ijaz Butt) has dragged Pakistan down further,” PakPassion.net quoted Pybus, as saying.
“Was this possible after all the allegations and match fixing emerged? Well yes, he (Butt) accused England, their host for the home-away-from-home test series in England, sponsored by the MCC, of corruption,” he added.
Current Cape Cobras coach Pybus also rued that the PCB chairman did not act in time when the scandal involving the tainted trio- Salman Butt, Mohammed Amir and Mohammed Asif surfaced.
“What next ... he hasn't acted swiftly to protect Pakistan cricket's name when these allegations emerged and now the official position seems to be that it is a witch hunt against Pakistan cricket and the Pakistan cricket board,” said the coach.
He noted while the cricket world was 'endlessly fascinated by the Pakistan cricket and admiring the unbelievable talent and occasional passages of consistent team brilliance', the perception was unfortunately clouded with the match fixing scandal.
Pybus lamented that as if these controversies were not enough, 'to make matters worse, an article appeared in the news recently saying that the PCB constitution didn't require that the selection panel, headed by the Convenor, needed to consult the coach or captain on squad selection.”