Arguably, the biggest purge of Pakistan cricket in years. The disastrous tour of Australia has brought with it severe punishment to senior players, including former captains Younis Khan, Muhammad Yousuf and Shoaib Malik.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), accepting the recommendations of the inquiry committee, headed by PCB Chief Operating Officer (COO) Wasim Bari, has slapped a life ban on Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf, one-year ban each on all-rounder Shoaib Malik and medium pacer Rana Naved-ul-Hassan, rupees three million fine each on Shahid Afridi and wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal and rupees two million on Umar Akmal.
In an earlier announcement, the PCB said a life ban was imposed on Younus Khan and Mohammad Yousuf and the PCB selection committee would no longer consider them for selection. Interestingly, in the evening, the PCB Media Manager made it clear that there was no time frame and the PCB might call the two players anytime, if and when required.
The PCB Chairman and his cronies must be reminded that in the summary trials, even the military courts used to give a chance to the accused to defend himself. By ignoring all norms of justice and fair play, Ijaz Butt, without listening to the players, took a unilateral decision.
He justified the recommendations of the inquiry committee, saying, "the recommendations of the inquiry committee will go a long way in arresting the continuing decline in Pakistan cricket." Meanwhile, Younis khan and Mohammed Yousuf could not be contacted for comments. However, according to the PCB's revised press release, they have the right to appeal.
Cricket experts believe that if Butt stick to his decision, then the PCB should get ready to face a legal battle, which, it is believed, Younis and Yousuf would win. Meanwhile, former captain Rashid Latif said: "You can't hand out such a severe punishment to players of the caliber of Yousuf and Younis Khan."
Former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq was also critical of the decision. "Why was action not taken earlier against these players? Why did the board keep quiet for so long when the team was on tour?" Inzamam said. Some former cricketers have criticised the PCB, arguing that before handing it out they should have issued show-cause notices to the cricketers, who, they believed, were troublemakers and whose "attitude has a trickledown effect which is a bad influence for the whole team."
It is a fact that Pakistan lost every match against Australia in their three-Test, five One-day Internationals and solo Twenty20 series, and the PCB has every right to reprimand those who were responsible for the debacle. The incidents of indiscipline are new, but the PCB did not take any action at the earlier stage. The PCB bosses woke up after a deep slumber when things went out of their control and now they have decided to tame the "bad boys" of the game.
The PCB Chairman has time and again said that the PCB has decided to show zero-tolerance for any kind of indiscipline. The question is that the PCB whether is competent or is it bold enough to stick its decision. The PCB Chairman is usually famous for making U-turn on the one pretext or the other.
T20 WORLD CUP TITLE: Pakistan have to defend their title in the Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies in April. In this situation, the PCB will be facing a captaincy problem and it has no other option but to crown all-rounder Abdul Razzaq with the captaincy as he has emerged as a strong contender for the all-important slot.
However, one very much doubts the PCB would take any action against players suspected of illegal activities, who brought a bad name to the country and made a mockery of Pakistan Cricket. "We are going to stick to these decisions that we have taken after much thought." The board would adopt its future line of action when and if any player decided to appeal against his punishment.
REBUILD SIDE: The PCB decision left new the head coach Waqar Younus shocked he would try and rebuild a side for the defence of their Twenty20 World Cup title in West Indies in April. "I will be talking to the board about this and see will what will happen," Waqar said.
The selectors are due to meet this week to announce the 15-member squad for the World Cup and the board will also announce a new captain. While Yousuf and Younis were not named in the preliminary squad of 30 players for the event, Malik and Rana featured in it. "I want to know what I did wrong," Rana told Reuters. "I will be consulting my people before deciding any future line of action." All said and one, the PCB hierarchy is advised to keep its house in order and run cricket affairs in a manner which the game of gentleman requires.