London court’s decision sad but not unexpected: Former cricket greats

Former players and cricket officials Tuesday termed the conviction of Muhammad Asif and Salman Butt by a UK court as sad but expected, advising the officials to take further measures to protect future players from fixing mafia. A jury at London’s Southwark Crown Court found Salman Butt guilty of both - conspiracy to cheat and conspiracy to accept corrupt payments for fixing parts of a test match against Australia at Lords, while Asif was found
guilty of conspiracy to cheat. “It is sad to see these players being convicted like that,” former Test cricketer Sikander Bakht told APP. He said that the decision should be an eye-opener for Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and it must start counseling of U-19 players. “The PCB should arrange proper training for keeping country’ss future players away from bookies” he insisted.
Former fast bowler Sarfaraz Nawaz said that the decision was a great setback for Pakistan cricket. “It is also a sad day for their (players) families and the entire nation,” he said. He said he had been asking to the PCB for the past several years to take steps towards rooting out the fixing menace from the game but unfortunately his suggestions were not given any due consideration. “The decision was expected. But whatever happened is really sad,” commented another former Test cricketer Basit Ali. Former ICC President Ehsan Mani said: “The conviction of these two players should be a lesson for others.”It is also a strong message to PCB that things were not in order. It is not acceptable for everyone, including country’s cricket lovers. But I feel the menace is not confined only to Pakistan,” he added.
Former PCB chief Arif Abbasi said the decision was expected. There was no chance of their (players) escape as “they broke the law of a country, whose people love their country’ss law very much.” (AAP)