The world's top animal rights organisation on Tuesday offered Pakistan cricketers mired in a fixing scandal the chance to claw back public respect by starring in a cat and dog neutering advertisement. Seeing the silver lining in Pakistan's embarrassing spot-fixing scandal, US-based People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) urged the players to exploit their "no-balls" notoriety to promote a healthier kind of "fixing".
The group said it had written to ask Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir to feature in a TV and print campaign showing that "no-balls" can be a lifesaver not just a crime. "No-balls may be a bad thing in cricket, but for dogs and cats, 'no balls' are a lifesaver," PETA said in a letter, a copy of which was sent to AFP.
Britain's Scotland Yard are investigating the players over British tabloid claims that they took money from an alleged bookie Mazhar Majeed to deliberately bowl no-balls during the Lord's Test against England last month. But PETA saw the positive. "We hope you will take us up on this offer. It is a win-win situation," it said. "Because of unchecked breeding and a lack of good homes, millions of dogs and cats all over the world languish in animal shelters or are euthanised every year.
"Countless other animals, including many in Pakistan, struggle to survive on the streets - starving and being hit by vehicles and abused by cruel people. "'Fixing' dogs and cats by having them spayed or neutered is the key to ending this suffering." The organisation said spaying one female can prevent the births of 67,000 dogs in six years and 420,000 cats in seven years. "That adds up to millions of animals who will never be born only to suffer and have their lives cut tragically short," said PETA.
Butt, Asif and Aamir - provisionally suspended by the International Cricket Council - have returned to Pakistan but have yet to be charged by police. They have agreed to return to Britain as and when required. Riaz, who made his Test debut at The Oval, is likely to appear before police on Wednesday.