The recently-concluded 20 overs, cricket match series by the PCB at Lahore, sponsored by ABN Amro, was a much needed boost for our domestic cricket. This applaudable effort was marred by Shoaib Malik's act of throwing a match between Sialkot and Karachi. It takes more than one party to throw away a match. Obviously those responsible for this criminal act should not be absolved of their complicity, unless proven otherwise.
Match fixing took place very blatantly in the 90's, with active support of some person within the PCB. Had there been no godfathers, those guilty could not have carried this illegal venture for such a long period. Prominent former heads of PCB were in the know of all that was happening, so were their political and bureaucratic benefactors.
Pakistan cricket has suffered a lot at the hands of a few, who minted billions. Two leading proclaimed gamblers and bookmakers, involved in match-fixing, not only got away, but today control our stock exchanges. It is time to put a stop to all this hypocracy.
The Pakistan Cricket Board must rise above petty parochial politics and come down very hard on this evil practice. There should be no exceptions.
I belong to Sialkot, and am a lover of cricket. While I support my local team, my commitment to Pakistan, cricket, and sportsman-spirit, is far more than local patriotism. The board must come down very hard and even-handed to nip and uproot this evil. Merely punishing one individual and letting go of the other team, will not resolve this issue.
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