Thaindian News

By Mir Mohammad

Islamabad, May 25 (ANI): Pakistan’s lawmakers on Monday asked cricket authorities to review the decision about banning top national players.

Lower house Sports Committee Chief Iqbal Muhammad Ali advised Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ijaz Butt to reconsider his decision of banning top national cricketers.

“There should be equal treatment for all, if you want to punish them than punish all otherwise forgive all of them,” directed committee chairman while responding to former captain Younis Khan’s complaint that he was discriminated to be banned for indefinite period.

The Pakistan Cricket Board banned two former captains Younis Khan and Muhammad Yousaf for indefinite period, Shoaib Malik and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan for one year and imposed a fine of two million rupees on Shoaib Malik and Rana Naveed, three million rupees on wicket keeper batsman Kamran Akmal, 2 million rupees on his brother Umer Akmal and 3 million rupees on Shahid Afridi for defeat against Australia earlier this year.

“This is totally unfair and not a way to correct the affairs. If you find a player indiscipline, punish him then and there instead of setting up inquiry after the series,” the committee chief ruled while also ordering to waste the video records of the inquiry against the players.

PCB last week leaked the videos of this inquiry in a suspicious manner leading to speculations that the board management wanted to divert the criticism on selection of national T20 squad following its defeat from Australia in World Championship semi final.

Ijaz Butt disclosed during the meeting that he was under tremendous pressure to give serious punishment to Shoaib Malik and forgive others but he had refused to accept this pressure.

He said he would consult PCB board of governors and chairman of its appellate tribunal to forgive the players.

“I would act upon members of governing board and appellate tribunal advice in this regard,” he said.

He also praised Younis Khan saying he was a true patriot and action against him was taken to beat the infighting in team.

Earlier, the Chief Operating Officer of PCB Wasim Bari briefed the legislators about inquiry report.

He said that team was gripped in grouping and seniors had serious differences among them while various juniors had been involved in clashes.

The committee also advised PCB for construction of a stadium in Islamabad and to resolve its land dispute with Capital Development Authority. (ANI)