The ignominious saga of the spot fixing trial has finally concluded. The single most paramount lesson to be taken out of this shambolic affair is that this should be the last we hear of match-fixing or spot-fixing in relation with Pakistan cricket. We have had a history of being involved in this and many other sordid tales, which sullied our reputation in international cricket.
Prior allegation of match-fixing, which was against our top players, resulted in a comprehensive Qayyum Commission report on which concrete action was never taken. This was followed by drug-related bans, numerous disciplinary issues, ball tampering, pitch scuffing and many other instances, which caused great harm to Pakistan's name.
It is not important to delve deep into the details of the case which was being heard at Southwark Crown Court since October 5. What is important is that there should be no denial, no accusation of conspiracy, no protest to claim the innocence of these players. The jury had conclusive evidence to make the decision it did. The players, for all the sentiments they evoked within the nation, deserved the punishment they received and that must be the final word.
Instead, the focus should be on the future and how to go about it. Without a shred of doubt, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is equally to be blamed for having allowed this to happen. Under the leadership of Ejaz Butt, the PCB cultivated a culture of nepotism, lobbying, politicking and dictatorship. Regionalism was considered more important than pure merit. Selective decisions were made on whimsical logic. A sense of instability was imbued while sidelining talent. All of this led to factionalism, which caused numerous rifts in the team, resulting in declining performance. Despite former captain Shahid Afridi's multiple warnings or former coach Intikhab Alam's doubts, players with questionable performance were not dropped. The team revolted not once, but multiple times to promote a certain lobby, which united to oust Younis Khan, and then targeted Shahid Afridi, when he became the captain of the team. Even Mazhar Majeed claimed that players considered Afridi an obstacle in allowing them to earn a quick buck.
All of this underhand politics, aimed at personal gain at the cost of team unity, has to be eliminated. The new chairperson Zaka Ashraf must grab the bull by the horn and make concrete decisions on the future of this team. It is an exercise in futility to publish advertisements in newspapers to celebrate winning an exhibition tournament. These are merely cosmetic measures and do not provide remedy to the malaise.
The focus of the board must be to breed a culture of honesty and trust, while making policies that are fundamentally player-centric. The team can revert back to its path of success, and salvage its lost glory, only if the players are given adequate financial incentives and a sense of stability and structure is introduced in the team-selection process. What has happened is already in the past. But the future is still to be charted.