Dubai: On Tuesday evening, David Richardson, the International Cricket Council(ICC) Chief Executive, through an urgently summoned press conference in Dubai urged Pakistan’s Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif to publicly accept their role in corruption and to cooperate with the ICC’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) and begin a rehabilitation programme.
Richardson’s statement came soon after Butt and Asif’s appeal against their life bans from the game were dismissed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).The most important factor in Richardson’s appeal was his request to both cricketers to stop misleading the public, especially the supporters of the Pakistan cricket team, and to accept their part in the corruption conspiracy.
Butt and Asif will always be remembered as cricketers who attempted to wreck the edifice of the game. Their acts of shame will remain as a dark chapter in the history of cricket. Both are unlikely to play the game ever again at international level and probably may not even get access to a cricket stadium. For all the harm they did to their nation and reputation, the least they can do is to come out and reveal all about those who wrongly guided them into committing such an act. As Richardson stated, both Asif and Butt must be having invaluable information about match- fixing and the people hovering around the game to trap cricketers. If they pass all information to the ACSU, it will be akin to washing away most of their sins.
It is human to err, but if these players are able to correct their mistakes somewhat by assisting in nabbing dangerous forces attempting to destroy cricket, it would be a great service to the game. They should ask themselves if they prefer to be remembered as cricketers who sold their country and reputation for money, or hailed as players who committed a mistake but came out and revealed all to save the game. Even their future generations may never have to bow their heads in shame if they confess to all their wrong deeds and assist in the fight against corruption.
