Ijaz Butt of the joke in the cricket world

 

Roar Guru

By Bay35Pablo, 23 Sep 2010 Bay35Pablo is a Roar Guru

Tagged:

 Cricket, England, ijaz butt, one day international, Pakistan, pakistan betting scandal, Pakistan Cricket Board

3 Have your say

Email

”They said they will sue me – I will sue them,” PCB chairman Ijaz Butt said. ”This is something totally wrong … definitely a conspiracy against Pakistan cricket.”

Ijaz Butt may have landed himself in more trouble than he appreciates, by alleging that the England cricket team threw or “fixed’ their ODI game against Pakistan, which they lost by 23 runs following a batting collapse, and that this had been pre-determined according to illegal Indian bookmakers.

If the England cricket team doesn’t get the retraction and/or or apology they demand, then defamation proceedings may ensue. And for those not in the know, England has a reputation for courts quite willing to order damages in such cases. In fact, it has a reputation as being the venue of choice for utterances you would think should be sued for elsewhere, but the “wronged” choose to use England’s courts because they have a much better chance of getting a favourable outcome. It’s so bad they are talking of reforms to make proving defamation harder, or at least end the “forum shopping”.

So Ijaz may get a lesson in what it’s like to be subject to a robust system of law and courts, as opposed to those on the sub-continent which have a somewhat lesser reputation. Cases taking decades to reach hearing in India are not the stuff of legand, but standard fare. And the reputation of the Pakistani courts is even lower than India’s.

Mind you, Ijaz’z threat to counter sue has all the logic of a school yard shouting match. “My Dad’s tougher than your Dad!” “No, my Dad’s tougher!!” Etc.

What, pray tell, would he be suing for? Losing by 23 runs? Will Ijaz trot out “John the Bookie” as a witness to say he paid off the English? This man is chairman of the PCB?

Cricket is in a bad enough state without those meant to be in charge, and responsible for sorting out the mess, engaging in this type of behaviour.

World cricket is looking for the PCB to be seen to take charge, act on the stench emanating from their team, and clean things up.

Unfortunately, these antics suggest that if the PCB aren’t part of the problem, they certainly don’t have the nous and will to fix things. The suspicion is that they’d like to hurriedly kick things under the carpet and hope it all goes away, as seems to have been the case with any other number of crises that have occurred in Pakistani cricket over the last few years.

The suggestion that there is some sort of conspiracy against Pakistan reinforces this impression. A conspiracy washes away the guilt, and the need to do anything. It isn’t their fault, nothing wrong, they’ve been “fitted up”. There are no rotten apples to be removed, just poor victims of some conspiracy.

By whom? For what aim? Ruining Pakistani cricket? It was already in a poor state, and not even able to play games at home.

The Pakistani government, which appoints the PCB (which is arguably part of the problem, in being run by political appointees rather than professional administrators) appears to be attempting to distancing itself from Butt’s comments. However, this whole disaster will continue to roll on, sullying the image of cricket, with the PCB seemingly harming or hindering things more than they are helping.

Strong decisive action? What odds on that?

The Turkey 10

The Turkey 10 teams have now been selected, as Wild Turkey Bourbon's sport sponsorship kicks into the next exciting phase.

Choose which side you're going to support and get in the running to win $2,500!

Simply visit Wild Turkey Australia on Facebook for your chance to win.

Find out more.