Trio troubles and wasted talent

The UK has charged our tainted trio, which will likely lead to a lifetime ban - what a waste of incredible talent.

Musabmemon February 04, 2011
On August 26 and 27, during Pakistan's Fourth Test at Lord's Cricket Ground against England last year, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif allegedly agreed to bowl deliberate no-balls.

Britain’s News of the World broke the news, sending shock waves throughout the world of cricket, claiming that then Test captain Salman Butt, together with 18-year-old Amir and Asif were involved in a spot-fixing scandal in association with their agent Mazhar Majeed.

The Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has charged the trio with corruption offences. The CPS said in a statement that the suspended trio has been
“charged with conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments and also conspiracy to cheat.”

The International Cricket Council (ICC), who ran an independent case on the Pakistani cricketers, is due to announce their verdict with the body's code of conduct carrying a maximum lifetime ban if corruption charges are proved.

Before the CPS had announced their charges, there was still a faint light of hope. Hope, specifically with respect to Amir, who had become the hottest property in the world of cricket. The teenager had won the love and trust of a nation whose hope was otherwise flagging, be it on a cricket ground or not.

Amir became a sensation soon after he set foot on the ground; legends compared him to mighty Wasim Akram, and many said Pakistan’s worse days are over. We all sat in silence and hoped he hadn’t done it. I personally wished even if he had, the ICC would let him go. But the CPS charging the players on corruption grounds sets a more candid precedent. The plausibility of the players being given a verdict against them is very highly likely.

The ICC verdict would eventually ensure bans on the players, either life or not. Pakistan will subsequently lose a talent, in the face of Amir, who could have been the only silver lining in our World Cup campaign.

The boy who smiles on the ground with uncanny innocence, has the energy of youth stuffed with his charisma, the nemesis of all batsmen he bowls to, the boy brimming with promise — he is the boy Pakistan will cherish for years to come if the verdict goes against him.
WRITTEN BY:
Musabmemon A sub-editor on the National desk of The Express Tribune
The views expressed by the writer and the reader comments do not necassarily reflect the views and policies of the Express Tribune.

COMMENTS (4)

parvez | 13 years ago | Reply As we are incapable of self discipline, it will have to be imposed from the outside on us. It's shameful that this affair has to go down in this fashion.
Anwar Hasan | 13 years ago | Reply Hard lesson for the newcomer.
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