The nomination of Salman Butt, who was convicted and banned for spot-fixing in 2010, as a member of the men’s national selection committee has sparked a scandal, leaving former cricketers stunned.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Friday that former international cricketers Kamran Akmal, Rao Iftikhar Anjum, and Salman Butt have been participated as “consultants” to chief selector Wahab Riaz in an unexpected move.
Expressing profound astonishment, former cricketer Sarfraz Nawaz conveyed his disbelief at the recent appointments made by the PCB, stating that such decisions could regress national cricket to the era marred by widespread match-fixing.
The former Test fast bowler, who had faced life threats from the mafia for his stance against corruption, expressed shock upon reading the official statement issued by the PCB.
“I have spent my entire life battling against this menace and had to relocate to England due to increasing threats. Learning that the PCB is not distinguishing between clean and tainted players was a shock to me,” Sarfraz said.
According to Nawaz, these tainted players have tarnished the country’s image and compromised Pakistan’s prestige on the international stage. He questioned the rationale behind considering such individuals for prominent positions under the current administration.
“Why were these tainted individuals even being considered for any role in the present regime? I am seriously contemplating writing a letter to PCB Management Committee chairman Zaka Ashraf to highlight the issue, as it could bring a negative reputation to Pakistan cricket,” lamented Nawaz.
Describing the decision as not merely routine but one with profound implications, he expressed concern over the impact on the country’s cricketing image. He emphasized that including tainted players in the selection panel contradicts the findings and recommendations of the National Assembly/Senate Committees.
Nawaz pointed out that there are numerous untainted players, such as Shoaib Mohammad and Mohammad Sami, who could have made a significant difference if added to the selection panel.
Additionally, he advised Mohammad Hafeez to step down immediately from the position of director coaching, citing Hafeez’s past statement indicating his unwillingness to work alongside tainted players in any board setup.
