THIS is apropos of the report ‘Salman turns to commentary’ and Javed Miandad’s comments ‘Spot- fixing more damaging’ (Feb 10). Banned by an anti-corruption tribunal for 10 years for his involvement in spot-fixing episodes in England as the national team’s captain, it is nothing but an audacity with little compunction or remorse to turn to commentary to give his expert views at a channel station during the World Cup matches.

Salman Butt is supposed to focus his attention and devote all his time and energies to get his name cleared. A cricket commentator with a tainted past bearing the stigma of bringing the game of cricket to disrepute will have no confidence and credibility during his commentary in cricket matches, and that too in the mega event.

He must rather pay heed to the sensible advice of Javed Miandad who wants the recently banned trio to assist in purging spot-fixing from the game.

He rightly points out that spot-fixing is more dangerous than match-fixing itself, for it provides more opportunity to fix betting markets, having vast numbers of bets on events within games. In fact, it is no less offence or crime.

Terming the tribunal decision as reasonable verdict, Miandad has indeed given banned Pakistani players (Salman, Asif and Aamir)  sane advice to help the ICC eradicate or root out the menace of spot-fixing by identifying those involved in rigging/betting markets.

Their cooperation in this regard will also help ease their case, and their punishment is likely to be reduced. Their disclosures will, at least, save the game of cricket from further such episodes of humiliation and defamation.

Although the ban imposed on Asif (seven years), Salman (10 years) and Aamir (five years) does seem to be very harsh and severe, the ICC has set a good example of zero tolerance of corruption in cricket, sending a strong message to players all over the world.

Salman Butt’s decision to turn to commentary is bound to provoke criticism from cricketing circles. The ICC is also likely to raise its objections.

The PCB, too, will not be lenient in this matter. It is, therefore, advisable for the former captain to drop this idea in his own interest and keep a good conduct, following all the rules and regulations of the ICC to raise chances of his playing cricket again.

His irrational and thoughtless decision will do him no good; rather it will further complicate his case, dimming all hopes of getting reduction in the ban imposed on him.

KHADIM HUSSAIN SUBHPOTO Hyderabad

Unanswered questions

WHILE deferring the verdict on the charge of spot-fixing against Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir till Feb 5, Michael Beloff, the head of the tribunal and International Cricket Council code of conduct commissioner, had said the decision had been put off to have ‘sufficient time to give the issue careful consideration.’

But now when the verdict has been announced, it appears that many key issues have not been given any consideration.

For instance, what was the interest of the News of the World in this case?

For what specific job were 150,000 pounds paid to the UK-based agent, Mazhar Majeed? Obviously such an amount would not have been paid to him only to lure the players to bowl no balls of little value to England.

Majeed was an agent of these players for the sponsorship deals, yet he betrayed them. Under whose pressure did he do so?

It is more than just a coincidence that it happened just before the World Cup. Who will benefit by the ban on the three Pakistan players?

Why were these two match-winning bowlers specifically targeted?

Spot-fixing is not as serious a crime as match-fixing. If Shane Warne and one of the Waugh brothers, also guilty of spot-fixing, were let off the hook with little penalty, why were the three Pakistani players not treated the same way? Is it not clear bias against Pakistan?

Amir should have been dealt with leniently. He is too young and it was his first such offence. Age and first offence are given consideration even in serious criminal cases. Putting Amir on probation would have been enough and an eye-opener for him.

Now the Pakistan Cricket Board should take up this matter with the ICC. But does the PCB chairman Ijaz Butt have the courage to do so?

S. NAQI HASAN Karachi