PCB confirms receiving letter from Afridi’s legal counsel

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that it has received a letter from a law firm representing former captain Shahid Afridi, challenging the disciplinary actions taken against him, particularly revoking of the NOC issued to him to play in foreign leagues.

“I can confirm that we have got a letter from Mandviwalla and Zafar Associates law firm in Karachi and we have forwarded this letter to the disciplinary committee, which is being assisted by our legal advisor Tafazzul Rizvi,” media manager Nadeem Sarwar said.

Sources said the law firm had challenged the actions taken against Afridi by the Board for violating the terms of his central contract after he launched a tirade against the PCB while announcing his retirement from international cricket earlier this week.

“The law firm has said that the actions against Afridi were an attempt to tarnish the image of the all—rounder, who is a patriotic, respected and honourable cricketer of Pakistan,” one source said.

The letter further states that their client Shahid Afridi followed all procedures as per his central contract while applying with the PCB for a No-Objection Certificate to appear for English county Hampshire, after which the certificate was formally granted.

“However, it is sad to note that the abrupt cancellation of the NOC and the suspension of central contract is a bid to deprive Mr Afridi of his lawful financial income,” the letter said. Afridi has been unable to play for Hampshire in the English T20 league after the PCB revoked all NOCs issued to him as part of their disciplinary measures against him.

The flamboyant allrounder, in a letter to the notice issued to him, had on Wednesday accepted that he had violated the terms of his contract and was prepared to face disciplinary action, but requested the board to permit him to play for Hampshire in the meantime.

The board turned down his request and instead formed a three—member disciplinary committee and directed Afridi to appear before it on June 8 in Lahore. Afridi criticised the Board after being removed as captain of the One—day team for the two—match series against Ireland.

In the past, during the tenure of PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt, other senior players who were also in dispute with the Board, had also hired lawyers to fight their cases including former captain Younis Khan and fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar.

Sri Lanka Cricket refutes 'baseless' fixing report, condemns channel

Sri Lanka Cricket has rubbished allegations of match-fixing that have cropped up against Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Smaraweera due to a TV report, condemning the channel for carrying a “baseless and demoralising” story.

While commentating on the World Cup match between the Lankans and Pakistan, which the hosts lost by 11 runs, the channel’s anchor had said that Jayawardene and Smaraweera could have deliberately “changed the game” by scoring just two and one run respectively during the game. The channel had also claimed that a local businessman had placed a $ 18,000 bet on the match.

“It is with deep regret that we note that a leading television channel in a special programme has stated that Sri Lanka has lost against Pakistan due to two of our leading players not getting runs in that game,” Sri Lanka Cricket said in a statement.

“Further they added that the two players had failed intentionally, thereby implying that our players might have been involved in match-fixing,” said SLC.

“SLC will take up the matter with the relevant authorities of this channel, based on the fact that this channel has brought great distress to two of our cricketers who have served the country with honour and dignity,” it added.

Sri Lanka were chasing 277 in the match and ended it 266-9. Jayawardene is already contemplating legal action against the channel. Meanwhile, Sri Lankan team manager Anura Tennekoon rejected suggestions that there might be an SLC or ICC inquiry against the players.

“Knowing both Mahela and Thilan, we feel there is no necessity to investigate the matter and, as far as the ICC has concerned, they have the right to investigate but so far they have not brought anything on this,” Tennekoon said. “But we will discuss the matter with our lawyer as well.”

Waqar apologises for remarks

The coach questioned the board’s tactics and said the delay would only cause disharmony in the team with the tournament less than a month away. In response, the PCB sent a showcause notice to the former captain asking him to explain his comments that were against the board’s code of conduct.

Though the board has decided against giving any official statement to Younis’ reply, a board official said that the coach has apologised. “Younis has admitted his mistake and apologised for violating the code of conduct in his reply to the notice,” said the official adding that the coach has also given an assurance to avoid such statements in the future.

The PCB, under a new strict policy, is maintaining zero-tolerance and has quickly reacted to officials and players giving reckless statements. ICC website error creates confusion Even the International Cricket Council (ICC) seems confused after it displayed names of both Shahid Afridi and Misbahul Haq on its website as captain of the Pakistan team. While the front page of the website mentioned Afridi as captain, Misbah was named the skipper in the inside page. However, it was learnt that a technical error in uploading information caused the error and was rectified soon afterwards.

‘Trio to feature in World Cup if cleared’

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ijaz Butt has said that the suspended trio – Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir – will be included in the World Cup squad if they are cleared from the spot-fixing allegations.

The three Pakistan players are awaiting the verdict that was delayed until February 5 after a six-day hearing was held in Doha earlier this month before a three-man tribunal headed by Michael Beloff. The International Cricket Council (ICC) General Manager on Cricket David Richardson had earlier said that it will be up to the tournament committee to decide on the inclusion of any player after the deadline, which is January 19, for the final team announcement.

However, the PCB chief, who visited the under construction Benazir Bhutto International Cricket Stadium in Larkana yesterday, told reporters that the board has requested the ICC to allow the late inclusion of the trio if they are cleared. Meanwhile, Ijaz said that the 15-man squad for the global event will be announced on January 19.

'International cricket not returning to Pak in near future'

Dave Richardson, ICC general manager for cricket operations, feels that the Pakistan Cricket Board's initiative to host the final of the country's premier first class competition under lights will have a positive impact on the sport. Richardson said that the ICC, too, was working on several recommendations to make five-day cricket including Test matches more interesting.

"The PCB has taken a bold decision to hold the five-day final under lights and it will help popularise the sport as well," Richardson said. He said the ICC was considering holding Test matches under lights in a bid to make it more interesting and attractive for the spectators.

Richardson, however, made it clear that it was not possible for an immediate return of international cricket to Pakistan. "I think once there is an improvement in the security conditions and arrangements then teams can be convinced to start looking at playing in Pakistan again," he said.

Richardson is in Karachi on the invitation of the PCB to watch the final of the Quaid Azam trophy being held for the first time under lights and with an orange coloured ball. He inspected the security arrangements in the stadium along with former captain Javed Miandad, and both agreed that their was a need for countries to experiment.

Misbah a better choice for World Cup captaincy: Sikander

After former Test cricketers Zaheer Abass, Aamir Sohail and Sarfraz Nawaz, former Pakistan Test bowler Sikander Bakht has also criticised all-rounder Shahid Afridi’s captaincy. Sikander does not want Afridi to lead the Pakistan cricket team in future. Talking to German Radio Deutsche Welle Urdu Service on Tuesday, Sinkander said a captain always lead from the front but Afridi had not been performing well since taking over as captain of the Pakistan’s ODI and T20 teams. “As a player he won the T20 World Cup for the country single-handedly in England. But after that the captaincy has affected his individual performance and that’s why Afridi should not be the captain any more.

Under Afridi, Pakistan have lost World T20, Asia Cup and ODIs and T20s against England, South Africa and New Zealand. Afridi, who plays more as a bowling all-rounder, has only managed to take 19 expensive wickets at 45 in the last 18 ODIs he played for Pakistan. While his recent T20 record is even more below par, having taken only 16 wickets in the last 16 games.

Sinkander said Misbahul Haq was leading the Test side by example and can be a good choice for the World Cup as well. “He is handling the pressure in Test cricket extremely well and can handle the World Cup pressure as well. Credit goes to Misbah’s performance for Pakistan’s recent victory against New Zealand,” Sinkander said. On Hamilton Test win, Sikandar said that it was a great performance. “Few people may consider Kiwis a weak team but beating New Zealand in New Zealand is never easy and Pakistan played great cricket. We won this Test when a hearing is going on against Pakistan’s three top cricketers in Doha. We have proved that Pakistan have the depth in talent.”

Waqar hopes for fresh start to Pakistan cricket

Pakistan coach Waqar Younis hopes that his team will be able to play some controversy-free cricket once a decision is taken by an independent tribunal that has finished hearing a spot-fixing case involving Mohammad Asif, Salman Butt and Mohammad Aamir in Doha. “I hope all goes well and I hope the outcome is what cricket requires. Hopefully things will settle after that and we can play controversy-free cricket for a while,” Waqar said on Tuesday after a training session in Wellington. Pakistan is currently playing a two-Test series against New Zealand. Waqar confirmed that he gave evidence to the independent anti-corruption tribunal. The suspended trio have been charged with offences relating to alleged activity surrounding the Test against England at Lord’s in August. British tabloid ‘News of the World’ alleged that they had taken bribes to arrange for deliberate no-balls to be delivered at pre-agreed times.

Salman, Aamir and Asif have been provisionally suspended since the allegations came to light in the days following the Test but all have denied any wrongdoing. They face lengthy bans if found guilty by a three-man tribunal chaired by British lawyer Michael Beloff. Waqar gave evidence via teleconference during the first Test in New Zealand. “I have given it, it is all finished and all done and let’s see what the result is,” he said. The coach chose not to speculate on whether the trio would join the team for the six one-day internationals against New Zealand, which starts on January 22, if found not guilty. “I have got no idea. Let’s see what happens first and then the selectors will probably have a look into it, and we will talk about it then.”

Cricketer Zulqarnain Haider, Pakistan's wicketkeeper, flees to London

Cricket was plunged into fresh turmoil today as a leading Pakistan player fled his team's hotel in Dubai and flew to London, claiming he had received death threats after scoring the winning runs in a one-day international. Wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider posted a message on his Facebook page saying that he was "leaving Pakistan cricket" because he had received a "bad message from one man to lose the last game".

He also phoned his brother and a television journalist in Pakistan, alleging he received a threat after Friday's close-fought match against South Africa. Haider arrived at Heathrow airport as his teammates played their deciding one-day match against South Africa back in Dubai, which Pakistan lost.

The drama comes on the heels of last August's corruption scandal when three Pakistani players became embroiled in match-fixing allegations triggered by a newspaper investigation. Mohammed Asif, Mohammed Amir and the captain Salman Butt are under suspension after being accused of accepting money via a middleman to bowl no-balls at specific points during the fourth Test against England at Lord's in the summer.

Last week Scotland Yard investigators sent a dossier of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service for possible prosecution, with the ICC expected to hold a disciplinary tribunal next year.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced an immediate inquiry following Haider's flight. Officials said they had no inkling of his departure. "The information shared with the PCB by local authorities indicates that Mr Haider has left the UAE for the United Kingdom," the PCB said in a statement. "The PCB continues to monitor this situation and is in regular contact with concerned authorities in this regard."

In Lahore Haider's brother, Raza, said he did not specify the nature of the threat. "He just seemed to be upset, as if he had some sort of pressure on him," he told a press conference at the family home, which was last night under police guard. The first sign of possible trouble in the Pakistani camp came on Saturday night when Haider and two other players were fined 500 dirhams (£84) each for breaking the team curfew.

Sources said Haider returned to his room less than 15 minutes late, but the fine was imposed as a sign of discipline. Last night Haider retrieved his passport from team management, saying he needed it to buy a mobile phone SIM card. This morning he texted a journalist with Geo, Pakistan's largest network, saying he had received threats and asking for protection for his family.

He simultaneously posted a message on his Facebook page that read: "leaving pakistan cricket because get bad msg fr 1 man fr lose the match in last game". By evening local police had posted 10 officers to guard the family home in Lahore. "It's just a precaution," senior officer Faisal Rana told the Guardian. "The threat is against Zulqarnain in Dubai, not the family here. We're still analysing the complaint. Maybe it's a rumour, maybe it's something else; I can't say at this point."

The PCB said Haider had not informed them or the ICC's anti-corruption unit of any threats. A PCB statement said he retrieved his passport for "personal use" on Saturday.

Pakistani officials denied that the drama marked the start of another national cricket scandal. "It's too early to involve all of Pakistani cricket," said Tafazzul Rizvi, legal adviser to the team. "This is just the act of one individual, and it's not a sensible act. Even he had threats against him, he should have informed the team security officer."

Rizvi said he had personally briefed the team before it left for Dubai on the procedures to follow in the event of any match-fixing or corruption suspicions. "I told them 'the time to come forward is now'. And nobody came forward," he said. Haider's other brother, Aqeel Haider, told Geo that he had not had any contact with the player and was "praying for him."

"I spoke to him last night, but he did not say anything about threats," he said. "I have not received any SMS or telephone call from him. He has not contacted with any of the family member as yet. We tried to contact him in the hotel too, but didn't succeed."

Born into a middle-class Lahore family, Haider made his international debut for Pakistan against South Africa in 2007. He was subsequently sidelined until this year. He is one of the more media savvy players on the Pakistani side, and has assiduously cultivated contacts with Pakistan and British journalists, often through Facebook. During last August's spot fixing allegations, he updated his status to say there was "one piece of good news – Zulqarnain made it to 68 in the ICC batting rankings", according to Karachi-based journalist Osman Samiuddin, of cricinfo.com. "He's very much in the public eye, and is not shy of putting himself up on Facebook to stay there."

Zulqarnain goes missing in Dubai

DUBAI: Pakistani cricket team wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider went missing from hotel room in Dubai, Geo News reported Monday.

The wicketkeeper Haider is missing from his hotel room since 6am this morning.

Sources said he was last seen at 630am from his room.

The wicketkeeper said in his Facebook post he was leaving cricket as someone gave him bad message on losing in last match.

The wicketkeeper words are: ‘leaving pakistan cricket because get bad msg fr 1 man fr lose the match in last game.’

Also, a message from Zulqarnain’s mobile received on cellphone of a friend and Geo News correspondent Sohail Imran, said he is leaving the cricket as someone is giving him murder threats.

The SMS received on Sohail Imran’s mobile phone said, ‘Match haar jao’ (Lose match.)
Geo News

Talking to Geo News, Zulqarnain’s brother Aqil Haider said his brother talked to the family last night.

Omar Akmal will play as wicketkeeper in today’s match.

Cricket world reeling from storm of allegations and rumours: PCB chief

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ijaz Butt has promised to co-operate fully with all investigations arising from the spot-fixing scandal that tainted his country’s recent tour of England, as he arrived back here on Wednesday following a bridge-building trip to London.

During the visit, he apologised to the ECB chairman, Giles Clarke, for claiming that England’s cricketers had accepted a bribe to lose last month’s third ODI at The Oval. In a statement issued on his return to Pakistan on Wednesday, Ijaz said that the cricket world ‘is reeling from a storm of allegations and rumours’, but sought to distance himself from the allegations that he himself had perpetuated by claiming that his reference to ‘loud and clear talk in bookie circles’ regarding England’s cricketers had merely been an attempt to point out that Pakistan is not the only country under suspicion.

“Many of these recent allegations have concerned the Pakistan cricket team, and these must and will be properly investigated,” said Ijaz. “But, and this was my point, the problem, and the rumours, are not confined to any single country. Those of us who care about the state of cricket in the world today will not flinch from a thorough, uncompromising investigation of any such allegations and rumours, whether they concern Pakistan or any other cricketing nation, and we at the PCB will give any such investigation our fullest cooperation and support.”

Ijaz’s future as PCB chairman is under intense scrutiny as he approaches the second anniversary of his appointment, with several influential figures, calling for a shake-up of the PCB hierarchy. Furthermore, in casting aspersions on the integrity of England’s cricketers, Ijaz succeeded in alienating Pakistan’s most significant allies in the world game, given that Clarke is also the head of an ICC task force investigating the feasibility of the return of international cricket to the country. Ijaz, however, reiterated that he had corrected the ‘misunderstanding’ during his meetings with the ECB, and felt confident that his personal relationship with the chairman had been restored. “We are very pleased with the outcome of this recent visit to London. While I was there I had a positive and productive meeting with Mr. Giles Clarke who has consistently shown himself to be a good friend to Pakistan cricket. This allowed us to address a variety of concerns, and to correct any misunderstandings which may have arisen. In particular, I was happy to correct the misunderstanding that I, or anyone at the PCB had made any allegations about members of the England cricket team. The point which I have sought to make from the beginning was that the world of cricket is reeling from a storm of allegations and rumors, and these must be addressed. I say again, we at the PCB have no specific evidence of any wrongdoing by cricketers from England. Our priority and our responsibility must be the actions of the Pakistan team. These are quite properly subject now to an investigation by both Scotland Yard and the ICC. But we will work with our colleagues at the ICC, and with all those involved with cricket administration around the world, to ensure that this game which we all love continues to be played in a spirit of honesty, fairness and sportsmanship. I am very glad that we have been able to resolve this misunderstanding with our friends in English cricket. We have all agreed to put this behind us now, and to concentrate on working together for the good of the game.”

SORRY IS HARDEST WORD FOR BUTT

Ijaz Butt last night withdrew his match-fixing comments about the England cricket team. But crucially he failed to apologise for his claim that "the talk in bookies circles is that several England players took enormous sums of money to lose the third one dayer".

The Pakistan Cricket Board chairman can be thankful his ECB counterpart Giles Clarke allowed him to save face by not using the words "sorry" or "apologise" in his statement.

Butt had specifically been asked to apologise or face legal action, but instead a withdrawal has been accepted - even though angry England players may have expected more. His statement said: "I wish personally and on behalf of the Pakistan Cricket Board to withdraw the comments I made.

"It is regrettable that there was a misunderstanding arising from my comments. "I never intended to question the behaviour and integrity of the England players, nor the ECB, nor to suggest that any of them were involved in any corrupt practices.

Pakistan corruption scandal timeline

Police confiscate the trio's mobile phones after allegations in The News of the World that they had arranged for deliberate no-balls to be bowled in the fourth test against England at Lord's. Their agent, 35-year-old Mazhar Majeed, is arrested and released on bail.

Aug. 30 - Pakistan slump to the heaviest defeat in their test history, losing the series 3-1. Manager Yawar Saeed says the one-day series, involving two Twenty20 matches and five one-day internationals, will go ahead. Aug. 31 - Customs officials arrest Majeed and two others in a separate investigation. The three are released on bail.

Sept. 1 - BoomBoom, official kit suppliers to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), announce they have suspended their commercial relationship with Amir and are reviewing their position with the board.

Sept. 2 - Saeed tells reporters before a warmup match against Somerset at Taunton that Butt, Amir and Asif will take no further part in the tour. The decision is welcomed by England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chairman Giles Clarke.

The three players attend a meeting at the Pakistan High Commission in London. High Commissioner Wajid Shamsul Hasan tells reporters the trio had maintained their innocence but had asked the PCB to pull them out of the remainder of the tour because of the "mental torture" they had undergone.

Later in the day, the ICC release a statement saying the three players have been suspended under its anti-corruption code and face possible life bans.

Sept. 3 - The three are questioned separately by London police. ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat tells a news conference at Lord's that the sport faces its worst crisis since the 2000 match-fixing scandal which resulted in life bans for international captains Hansie Cronje (South Africa), Salim Malik (Pakistan) and Mohammad Azharuddin (India).

Sept. 4 - The News of the World quotes Pakistan opener Yasir Hameed as saying match-fixing was rife in the team. Hameed denies ever speaking to the Sunday tabloid. The newspaper also says a fourth, unidentified Pakistan player is being investigated.

Sept. 5 - Hameed attends a meeting at the Pakistan High Commission and afterward issues a statement saying he was duped into speaking to The News of the World.

Sept. 10 - Butt, Amir and Asif return home after agreeing to return to England if requested to help with the police investigation.

Sept. 14 - Police interview Pakistan pace bowler Wahab Riaz.

Sept. 18 - Lorgat issues a statement saying an investigation had been launched into the scoring pattern in Pakistan's innings in the third one-day international at the Oval on the previous day. Pakistan had won by 23 runs.

Sept. 20 - The ECB threaten legal action against PCB chairman Ijaz Butt after he suggests the England team had been bribed to lose at the Oval. Riaz and England batsman Jonathan Trott clash in the nets before play begins in the fourth one-day match at Lord's.

Sept. 23 - ECB say they will start immediate legal proceedings against Butt unless he gives a "full and unreserved apology" for his allegations.

Ijaz Butt, PCB asked to pay compensation to ECB

Dawn learnt on Friday that the ECB has not only demanded an unreserved apology but has also dictated the exact words that apology should comprise. Moreover, the apology will be from both the PCB chairman and the PCB, sources further said. The ECB also demanded from the PCB to pay the legal costs of the case and in addition pay a substantial sum in damages to each member of the England cricket team, personally.

Sources said the PCB chairman was certainly not expecting such harsh reaction from the ECB after he had tried clarifying the basis of his statement. Ijaz was reported as saying in the press that there was loud and high talk in the bookies’ circle that English players made lot of money for losing the third One-day International against Pakistan on Sept 17.

Soon after his statement, the ECB issued a protest statement against the PCB chairman, asking him to tender an apology.

The PCB chairman, however, preferred to clarify the matter his own way by saying that he had not accused the England players of throwing the game but that was what the bookies had been saying.

Ijaz’s clarification, however, was not accepted by the ECB and a legal notice was sent to the PCB on Thursday. The PCB has decided to respond to the legal notice through its England-based lawyers, Addleshaw Goddard.

Pakistan match-fixing claims: Lord's remains genteel as crisis rumbles on

According to the anthropologist Kate Fox, our typical reaction to offensive behaviour extends no further than "frowns and glares accompanied by heavy sighs, pointed coughs, tutting and muttering".

Fox could have found more evidence to support her thesis at Lord's on Monday. The English members of a 20,000-strong crowd remained scrupulously polite – on the surface, at least – while privately bemoaning the fact that cricket had been taken over by renegades and shysters. "You just can't believe what you see on the field any more," said Jonathan, 27, from Essex. So why did he come to the game then? "Well, I bought the ticket in May, and Lord's is always a nice day out. Plus, the sun's shining.

One MCC member, who declined to be named, put up a passionate defence of the Pakistanis' rights. "I feel very sorry for them," he said. "Imagine you are a young talented guy, and there's half a village depending on the money you bring in. I deplore these so-called 'stings' – they're just entrapment by another name."

Lord's is not renowned for its revolutionary sentiments. Even so, it was still a surprise to see the pavilion crowded with egg-and-bacon ties. That meant some 3,000 MCC members had turned out to watch this discredited match – because they just felt like a day at the match. If this is what cricket in crisis looks like, the sport must be healthier than we thought.

The spectators in the Mound Stand could barely hear above the choruses of "Pakistan! Zindabad!" (Long live Pakistan). Ijaz Butt's sabre-rattling counter-attack drew a mixed response from the lime-green quarter. "The ICC shouldn't have come out with all those accusations," said Muhammad Amir, 22, who just happens to share a name with the man at the centre of the spot-fixing scandal. "I think he [Butt] did the right thing – he stood up for our country."

Khan Juna, 57, took a less combative stance. "We are embarrassed by that statement – you can't just come out with those sorts of allegations without evidence. The ICC have to get a grip on this whole business, otherwise the World Cup is going to be a disaster."

Forget the World Cup for a minute – what about tomorrow's final match at the Rose Bowl? Lord's may be a genteel outpost of British reserve, but the atmosphere in the shires can turn decidedly lively for these day-night matches. From the ECB to the Pakistani players, everyone will be relieved when this tour is finally over.

Pakistan cricket team face fresh spot-fixing investigation

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has launched an investigation into yesterday's one-day international between England and Pakistan following allegations that a scoring pattern in Pakistan's innings was prearranged.

The ICC said the investigation was based on information received from the Sun newspaper. The ICC chief executive, Haroon Lorgat, said: "A source informed the Sun newspaper that a certain scoring pattern would emerge during certain stages of the match and, broadly speaking, that information appeared to be correct.

The investigation follows an earlier scandal on the tour, when a players' agent allegedly received money for organising players to bowl no-balls at prearranged times so as to fix spot-betting markets.

Pakistan won the match by 23 runs. It was the third of the one-day series.

The Sun claimed it had passed on the information to the ICC before yesterday's match at The Oval began after receiving details of calls between a Dubai-based match-fixer and a Delhi bookie.

"Cricket chiefs then watched as Pakistan's score mirrored the target that bookies had been told in advance by a fixer," the newspaper said.

The Sun's report said ICC officials began their investigation before Pakistan's innings had ended, and that "it is not thought that the overall result was fixed, only scoring rates in parts of Pakistan's innings".

The ICC said it would work with Sun staff and sources to "ensure full truth surrounding this match is ascertained".

A Pakistan Cricket Board spokesman, Nadeem Sarwar, said: "The ICC has already issued it's statement and we don't think it is appropriate for us to comment at this stage."

The Pakistan team have been dogged by fixing claims throughout the tour. The earlier no-ball fixing allegations resulted in the ICC suspending Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir while a fourth Pakistan player, Wahab Riaz, was questioned by Scotland Yard last Tuesday.

The suspended cricketers had replied to the notices of the ICC, but the game's governing body has yet to set a date for a hearing. That initial fixing controversy had triggered calls from some quarters for the remainder of the tour to be called off.

Diplomatic blames PCB over match-fix laws

Leading English language daily Dawn reported on Thursday that High Commissioner Wajid Shamsul Hasan wrote a letter of complaint to Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, who is also patron of the PCB. Hasan said in a two-page letter that the PCB officials “kept the diplomats unaware about the laws of ICC relating to alleged match-fixing.

“The PCB management has not guided the High Commission at any point,” Hasan wrote. The ICC suspended Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir over match fixing allegations while fourth player Wahab Riaz was questioned by Scotland Yard on Tuesday. The London police also interrogated Butt, Asif and Amir earlier this month, but did not press any criminal charges against them.

Hasan consulted with the three cricketers in London and handled media scrutiny after British tabloid the News of the World revealed footage of an agent allegedly accepting money to organize the players to bowl deliberate no-balls at prearranged times to fix spot betting markets.

The High Commissioner said the management of the PCB stayed away from the trouble “while the way forward was none other than a diplomatic solution, which worked and resolved the matter to a large extent.”

PCB announces new policy regarding managers

“Yes, it was a fault at the PCB end that it has not adopted any clear policy in allowing the players to hire their agents/managers. But now the deficiency has been removed by binding the players in this regard,” PCB chairman Ijaz Butt said in a press conference.

The players’ agent Mazhar Majeed, the central character in a nasty spot-fixing saga in England involving Pakistan players, has been allegedly found involved in the scam as a bookie.

“The same Mazhar Majeed was also the agent of Inzamam-ul-Haq and he has been working with the players since long time,” the chairman said.

But when asked if the Pakistan team management and the PCB officials were not aware about Mazhar’s activities, he said ironically nothing was done in the past in this regard but now steps had been taken to ensure the boys would be put under vigilant control.

Later, the PCB also issued a press release which says: Procedure for Registration & Clearance of Player Agent/ Manager.

“The Following procedure is to be followed by all players wishing to engage agents/ managers. No Pakistani cricketer who is selected for any squad for local and international teams will be allowed to engage any agent/manager without the prior written approval of the PCB. Failure to comply with these instructions will result in the player being declared ineligible for selection in any of the domestic and international cricketing events under the control of PCB.”

The procedure is as follows:

1.The agent/manager wishing to get clearance should apply in writing to the PCB giving details of players they wish to represent, the scope of representation, terms of contract with players, and their own background data to the PCB for approval.

2. PCB will forward this information to the concerned High Commissioner/Ambassador of Pakistan in the country to which the agent belongs for their checking and approval. Only after receipt of this approval, PCB will accord a go-ahead to the agent/player. In case of agent/manager based in Pakistan, local law enforcement authority will provide clearance of the said agent/manager

Match Fixing Scandal: Tainted Pak Trio Will Meet Scotland Yard Today

Pakistan's tainted trio of Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir will on Wednesday face another round of questioning from the Scotland Yard for their alleged involvement in the 'spot-fixing' scandal that has rocked international cricket even as England's Players' body demanded their ouster from the Twenty20 and ODI series here.

The trio, which has been implicated in the scandal after a sting operation by a British tabloid, is set to be quizzed by the Scotland Yard for the second time but they are not in danger of being arrested, a Pakistan Cricket Board official said.

Their meeting with Pakistan High Commission officials here has, however, been postponed to Thursday. ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat will meet PCB chief Ijaz Butt as scheduled in London today to discuss the scandal that has plunged the game into a crisis.

The trio will now miss Pakistan's practice match against Somerset starting tomorrow as that will clash with their meeting with PCB and High Commission officials at the High Commission here."The trio of captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif had been due to meet PCB chairman Ijaz Butt and the country's High Commissioner in London today. But it has emerged that the talks have been put back and now clash with the team's next fixture, which gets underway tomorrow," 'Sky News' reported. (Video Special: Pak match-fixing scandal)

Pakistan team manager Yawar Saeed had yesterday said that the three would only face a PCB internal inquiry at the High Commission in London but it has now emerged that they will be questioned by Scotland Yard. (Watch: Did Pakistan fix these matches? | Pak players caught on tape)

He said no player has been charged as yet nor any case registered against them and they are available for the forthcoming Twenty20 and one-day series.

"As it stands now, the players have only been questioned by Scotland Yard. No one has been charged neither has Scotland Yard found any incriminating evidence against any player," a PCB official said.

"We have hired a barrister to assist the players and will be present when they meet with Scotland Yard detectives today. The questioning is part of routine investigation but all the players who are being questioned are available for selection and play in the coming series," he added.

The Pakistan High Commission has also asked the Scotland Yard to provide it with a preliminary report on the investigations.

The investigations are still on but England's Professional Cricketers Association wants the three to be dropped immediately so that the remaining tour does not become a "sideshow" to the murky scandal.

Pakistan Cricket Board waiting for Muhammad Yousuf to return

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has kept the door open for former skipper Muhammad Yousuf who has been asked to rethink about his decision to retire in order to become part of the national team.

The PCB has already given relief to five of his teammates it penalized heavily in the aftermath of a disastrous tour of Australia last year and is anxiously waiting for Yousuf’s comeback.

After retracting the indefinite ban on former skippers Shoaib Malik and Younis Khan, Irfan Qadir, an independent arbitrator hearing appeals of the banned players, has asked the board to review Yousuf's ban so that he is "treated at par with the other players in these appeals”.

In response, the PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt said that PCB has already informed Yousuf that he can play for the side if he comes out of retirement. "Yousuf has not appealed, he has retired. We have sent messages to him through others that if he takes back his retirement, he can play for Pakistan again. But he declined that offer," said Ijaz Butt.

PCB has put Pak cricket at risk by revoking Malik's ban: Abdul Qadir

Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief selector Abdul Qadir has criticised the board for taking a 'U'-turn by revoking the one-year ban on all-rounder Shoaib Malik. Qadir said the PCB has once again put Pakistan cricket at risk by lifting the ban on Malik, who was banned and fined two million rupees for his poor show and creating a rift among players during the winless tour of Australia.

"It is not a good omen for Pakistan cricket. By taking such decisions, the board is only encouraging the players to move out of line," The Daily Times quoted Qadir, as saying. "But by taking a U-turn apparently because of political pressure, the board has once again put Pakistan cricket at risk," he added.

According to PCB insiders, board chairman Ijaz Butt was under tremendous pressure to lift the ban on Malik and also to reduce the fine imposed on him following the recommendations of an inquiry commission, which was formed to look into the reasons behind Pakistan's deplorable performance during the tour DownUnder.

"PCB chief Ijaz Butt, who is behind all this circus going on, was directed by the son, who has a close relation with Malik, of that top political leader to lift the ban. And Ijaz, who had no choice, complied with the orders," sources said.