The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has summoned Muhammad Asif and Salman Butt to sign the roadmap for their return to cricket.
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Najam Sethi, chairman of the PCB’s influential executive committee, said the Board had planned special rehabilitation programs for the two players whose spot-fixing bans expire on September 1, allowing them to return to cricket. “We had written to ICC seeking clarification on some points and they have in reply left it to the PCB to complete the rehabilitation process of these players”, Sethi said to a news channel in Pakistan.
Muhammad Amir on the other hand will play for Rawalpindi in the upcoming T20 cup.
“They should tell the players at all levels about their misconduct and the disgrace they brought into cricket”.
Khan said he had met and briefed Sartaj Aziz, the national security advisor to the Pakistan Prime Minister, on the existing situation in Indo-Pak cricket relations and asked him to take up the issue with the Indians. “They can’t be allowed to play any national championship but can only be allowed to play the second-class cricket”.
“It’s imperative that the whole world watch (Pakistan play India), it’s like Australia playing England in the recent Ashes series, but all depends on the two countries”, said Abbas.
The three players were later banned by ICC Anti-Corruption Unit (ACSU). The details of the meeting haven’t been disclosed, but the ICC has confirmed it has decided against activating the additional suspended years. The PCB, though, it is understood, denied them access to educational programmes for more than two years, but now after the ICC’s clearance it is offering it to them.
“It wouldn’t be as straightforward for Asif and Butt so we need to be careful about how we go ahead with their integration”, he said.
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Sethi revealed that there were lots of players including some members of the Pakistan team, who were not happy that Butt, Asif or Mohammad Amir should be rehabilitated back to top cricket. Amir has completed his rehab program, appeared in ICC’s anti-corruption video, took a start from grade 2 and club cricket and eventually made upto the competitive cricket.
