The Pakistan Cricket Board has confirmed that Prime Minister and former cricketer Imran Khan has agreed to support the board in the efforts to criminalise match-fixing.
According to ANI, PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani confirmed that the former World-Cup winning captain, who became the country’s PM in 2018, has lent his support.
Discussions over match-fixing and making it a criminal offence has been going on for a while with more current and ex-players speaking up about it. In order to curb the incidents of match-fixing and corruption, the board has been planning on passing a legislation to criminalise the practice.
Currently, the PCB has no specific legal authority to follow through on match-fixing incidents and checking bank accounts of those concerned. With the legislation to criminalise the practice, however, it is likely that there would be more clarity on the board’s authority and the punishment for offenders.
Pakistan cricket has been embroiled in several match-fixing incidents in the past. The ICC had banned Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir in 2011 for their role in the match-fixing scandal in the Test match against England in 2010.
Recently, ex-Pakistan pacer Aaqib Javed opened up about how his career came to an end after he refused to throw matches, accusing former cricketer Saleem Pervez of introducing players to bookies. He revealed that he was told to comply with the demands to fix matches or his career would be finished.
Another prominent player Danish Kaneria was also found guilty of spot-fixing while playing for English county Essex against Durham in 2009. He recently appealed to the PCB to lift the life ban imposed on him by the board in 2013 and allow him to play domestic cricket.
