With much being said about the ongoing trial in the spot-fixing scandal that surfaced in the second season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), we decided to talk to the man at the helm of things.
Abdul Ghaffar (AG): People believe that the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) lack of evidence is delaying the spot-fixing scandal investigation, how do you respond to that?
Najam Sethi (NS): The PCB is following a procedure set by the investigation tribunal and we are giving full opportunity to all players involved to defend themselves; hence, the significant amount of time spent waiting for their response.
We have done our best to fulfil the requirement of the players and their lawyers but at the same we have prepared our evidence and submitted it to the tribunal. All the time that is being spent is for due process. It does not mean our case is weak or that we do not have the required evidence.
Spot-fixing is a serious allegation to make and we have not done it lightly. There is evidence to back our claim up. We have not brought the evidence out in public as the players being probed had raised objections against it.
AG: Lawyers of players have accused the PCB of pressurising them into admitting to the charges and cutting a deal, is that true?
NS: Like any good journalist, you must be aware of the difference between the punishment given to [Muhammad] Amir and [Mohammad] Asif and [Salman] Butt?
Amir who admitted to the allegations, got a five-year ban, while the other two were handed a seven-year sentence. That is how the system operates. Admitting to a crime one has committed leads to a shorter sentence, and the option is put in front of every player involved in such a scandal.
The PCB’s regulations are similar to those of the International Cricket Council: Mohammad Irfan admitted his mistake and thus got a lighter sentence. Once he serves his sentence, things will go back to normal for him.
The case would have been different had he refused to admit it — it would have been a different case altogether.
One also needs to remember that Irfan’s case is different than the other players being investigated. Irfan only failed to report a bookie’s approach, while we believe the other two actually committed spot-fixing, with Nasir Jamshed as their facilitator.
AG: Will PCB accept the decision made by the tribunal?
NS: Of course, the PCB will accept whatever decision is made by the tribunal. The independent tribunal was created by law so of course we will accept whatever decision it takes.
AG: What is the status of the Nasir Jamshed case?
NS: Naisr Jamshed is not cooperating with us, we called him to answer our questions more than two times, but he refused to show up. He had sent us a request to postpone the inquiry until his cases in the UK conclude. We had rejected the request, as [we believe] these are delaying tactics usually adopted by someone who is guilty.
AG: How does the PCB plan to prevent spot-fixing in the next season of PSL?
NS: We plan to educate our players thoroughly, explain to them that bookies will target the tournament and that they need to remain alert against such threats.
We have advanced our intelligence too, made sure that the Federal Investigation Authority is on board with us. We are working closely with them and hope to arrest troublemakers.
AG: What response is the PCB getting to the decision of adding a sixth team in the PSL mix?
NS: The response has been excellent. Before the first season of PSL, we invited bids for five teams and only five buyers showed up; but after the success of the tournament, 15 buyers have now lined up and they are showing interest in the sixth team.
We will try to host at least eight matches of the next season in Pakistan, four of which, we hope, will be played in Karachi while the other four will be held in Lahore; but of course it all depends on the situation at the time.
