PCB announce reintegration plans for banned cricketers

Sport360 staff 23:37 26/08/2015
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  • All three players hope to return to playing cricket.

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has chalked out a detailed action plan to help trio of banned cricketers Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir reintegrate back into Pakistan cricket.

    Amir has already been allowed to play domestic cricket by the International Cricket Council (ICC), while Asif and Butt will return to competitive cricket once their five-year bans end on September 1, 2015.

    The ICC recently said that the players can now play both domestic and international cricket but the PCB feel the players must first go through proper rehabilitation.

    They were sentenced after being found guilty of spot-fixing in the now infamous Lord’s Test against England in 2010.

    Following the ICC’s decision that it has no objection to the players making a full return to cricket, the PCB after seeking further clarification from the governing body and have devised a reintegration/rehabilitation plan for the three cricketers.

    “We had to consider the effect of an immediate induction of these players into cricket, the acceptability of these players amongst their fellow cricketers, the anticipated negative slogans at the grounds from cricket fans and its effect on the other players and the banned players’ own strength to deal with these pressures,” said PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan.

    “Having considered all these factors we have come up with an action plan that will ensure a smooth and gradual induction of these players into cricket leading up to a full integration upon completion of rehabilitation and education programme.”

    All three players will work with the PCB’s Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Department by delivering lectures in all of the country’s 16 cricketing regions from September 2 – October 30.

    They will be required to pay regular visits to Edhi homes, orphanages and schools to publicly contribute towards social responsibility obligations from September onwards.

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    “All three players to have integration sessions with Bowling Coach Mushtaq Ahmed and Team Pakistan members in order to foster acceptability for probable future congenial environment in the dressing room in first class/international engagements. The players should have an apologetic attitude towards their fellow players, selectors and other stakeholders as a sign of sincere remorse,” the PCB said.

    They will be allowed to train at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore from September 2 except when Pakistan national players practice, in a bid to avoid any incident. Players will be able to use the NCA at will once the rehabilitation programme is completed.

    Asif and Butt must also attend sessions with a psychologist spread over two days to prepare themselves to deal with the pressure and scrutiny of their return to the sport.

    The PCB expects that as a result of its rehabilitation and education programme, the three cricketers will be ready to fully return to cricket.

    “While we recognize the importance of getting these three players back in our fold we are also cautious of the adverse impact it could have not only on the entire nation but on their fellow players if we hastily induct them into the national side. It would be unfair to expect these players to immediately pick the threads where they abruptly left off in 2010,” added Shaharyar.

    “They will also need to prove their fitness, ability and acceptability in cricket. The action plan prepared by PCB will beneficial to the trio and assist a smooth transition for their re-induction into Pakistan cricket. We hope that all three will fully cooperate and undergo each of the steps provided in the action plan.”

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