APL (Association of Pakistani Lawyers), a team of Pakistani origin lawyers, Solicitors, Barristers, and Judges in UK has observed that News of the world’s second addendum to their revelations on Sunday 5 September 2010 on spot fixing involving Pakistani Cricket players have posed many unanswered questions on the whole for Pakistan.

APL has taken a serious note of the news of the world’s undercover report on match fixing and has termed the latest betting scam allegations report involving Pakistani Cricket team a deadly development for mainstream sports of Cricket. It is disappointing for the game as well as those millions who watch on TV and take interest in this great game and those who go one step ahead and pay tickets and travel to the stadium to watch it live at the ground for a fair and competitive match. APL has urged all not to prejudge the outcome and allow a fair investigation of Scotland Yard into the whole affair with an opportunity to those alleged to defend themselves to put the matter to rest once for all as the continuing allegations are damaging for the game as well as for the team and the country as it brings both into a disrepute. APL however, observed that Pakistan as a state needs to look at ‘corruption’ with a new mind set, contempt and a will to deter corrupt practices in all ranks and file and it needs to introduce a practical legislation coupled with a judicial forum which adjudicate such elements and bring them to account so that the message is strong and no one could get through the net through coercive measures as is the case in the immediate past. APL urged however, that Pakistani Cricket team, Cricket Board (PCB) and the Govt to seek legal assistance & advice immediately and co-operate in principle with the investigation of Scotland Yard and ICC anti corruption unit to safeguard the prestige of the team players and the country and put the matter to rest for the sake of all stake holders.

APL concluded by demanding that those involved as alleged if found guilty, they must be made an example if Pakistan ever wishes to participate into a fairer competition in this form and level of the game. APL confirmed that It will favour Pakistan to come out of shock, and form a strategy of how to digest and handle this whole affair. Players if are guilty must face the wrath of the ICC to clean the team and the repute of the good game of cricket. That guilt must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt with an opportunity of defence. However, PCB must come up to the task of regulating, monitoring and discipline the sport at their end, and take concrete steps to ensure that ‘corruption’ will not be tolerated at any cost. So far the mind set indicates that Players, Board and the Govt are playing victim and are in one line which is a dangerous trend and the message to the Cricketing world and it may cost Pakistan its seat in ICC for years as it will indicate that Pakistan in the interim is not interested to punish those who bring disrepute to the game, and favours status quo on the subject. Finally the Govt. must take steps to bring the board to accountability as it bitterly failed throughout this affair. PCB is nowhere seen in this whole saga. There is no strategy, no line of action, and no defence and still PCB and Pak envoy are crying wolf. PCB’s failure is enough to bring changes from top to bottom. Govt must contemplate an official enquiry post UK’s criminal investigations under a Supreme Court judge to probe and oversee the whole affair. The enquiry tribunal must pin point failures to adhere corruption calls, fixing responsibility on officials, adjudicating against players who are allegedly involved, and put forward suggestions to reform policy & law and directives to eradicate corruption from this great game of cricket. Little late, then it must be ready to be away from this great game for a considerable time as so far a way Wired, scattered, and impractical Strategy of Pakistan on Match Fixing scandal is causing international embarrassment. APL termed that the time is up to call spade a spade.

Association of Pakistani Lawyers (UK)

About Amjad Malik

Amjad Malik has written 42 articles on this journal.

Amjad Malik, Solicitor–Advocate of the Supreme Court of England and Wales, life member of SCBA of Pakistan, a specialist in immigration and Human Rights Law. He is a member of Law Society’s Immigration Law Committee’, he was awarded ‘Young Human Rights Lawyer Award’ for the year 2000. In the year 2001,Young Pro Bono Solicitor’s Group also named him for the national ‘Young Pro Bono Solicitor Award’. On 28 February 2007 he was awarded by (UICF) United International Community Forum (UK) in recognition to his outstanding professional contribution towards service of Asian and British community in role model capacity where Chief guest was Mrs. Cherrie Blair. He sits on ‘UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Pro Bono Lawyer’s Panel.’ He is UK representative on young lawyer committee of the International Bar Association & UK Director of Human Rights Foundation (USA) and is a current Vice chair of ‘Association of Pakistani Lawyers (UK)’.

• View all posts by Amjad Malik →
• Blog

Popularity: 1% [?]