ICC 2013 spot-fixing controversy: Former PCB chief feels players are soft targets in spot-fixing scandals

Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Khalid Mahmood said that corruption in cricket can only be rooted out when officials are also given punishment and held responsible for failing to stop the menace in the sport.

Khalid Mahmood feels officials need to be punished in order to get rid of corruption in cricket © AFP (Representational picture)

Karachi: May 23, 2013

Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Khalid Mahmood said that corruption in cricket can only be rooted out when officials are also given punishment and held responsible for failing to stop the menace in the sport.

“I think some serious legislation is required through Parliament in Asian countries to have laws to deal with players, officials and bookmakers. Until the, it will be only be the players who get punished,” he said.

“I just feel at times that players are soft targets whenever a spot-fixing scandal comes up. This time in the IPL the good thing was that the police only arrested the three players after thorough investigations and evidence.

“But normally we have seen in Asia that players are maligned and crucified rather hastily whenever some scandal comes up without any real evidence against them,” he said.

During his tenure in the late 90s, the allegations of fixing in Pakistan’s losses to Bangladesh and Australia in the final of the 1999 World Cup had come up. Justice Qayyum match fixing inquiry was also held during his tenure.

“It is disappointing but true that in non Asian countries the authorities and media tend to have a different mindset dealing with such scandals and from what we have seen it is very easy for the authorities and media to pin blame or point fingers at Pakistani players or other Asian players in such scandals,” he said.

He also blamed the International Cricket Council (ICC) for failing to do its duty to discourage and root out fixing and corruption in cricket.

“We have yet to see the ICC anti-corruption unit come up with any exposure of corruption in all cases uncovered so far.

This has been done by the law enforcement, investigating agencies or the media,” he said.

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