 |
| Mohammad Asif, as well as Salman Butt, will still have to meet the PCB's rehabilitation conditions before turning out in first-class cricket for WAPDA |
Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif, whose bans for spot-fixing lifted on
September 2, have been signed by the Water & Power Development Authority
(WAPDA) as non-executive 17th grade employees. Both Asif and Butt have
confirmed that they have signed the 17th grade application form offered by
WAPDA, but it is yet to be determined if they will feature in the 2015-16
first-class season.
For now the contract will prevent
the two from signing up for other departmental teams in Pakistan when they are
eligible to play domestic cricket after their ongoing rehabilitation programme
ends in February 2016. "Both have started training with us," Amjad
Saddique, the WAPDA coach, told ESPNcricinfo. "We have also sent their
names in the probables, but it's now on the PCB on what they will decide.
Meanwhile, we have signed a contract with them."
The PCB had made clear its intent to regulate the pair's return in to competitive
cricket after the ban lifted, saying they are required to take part in an
anti-corruption educational programme, have sessions with a psychologist, and
play grade cricket for a start, before returning to the first-class game. So,
ESPNcricinfo understands, they are unlikely to play top-flight cricket in the
current season - the domestic first-class circuit is about to kick-start this
month but both according to the PCB both will be eligible to play only after
playing grade two cricket, which will start in August 2016. "PCB rehab
programme and its terms and conditions remain the same as they were," a
PCB spokesman said.
Previously both Butt and Asif were
associated with National Bank of Pakistan, but their contracts were immediately
terminated they were found guilty of spot-fixing. The third player of the
tainted trio, Mohammad Amir, was also part of National Bank previously
but has now signed with Sui Southern Gas Company Limited.
Amir, who had admitted to his guilt
from the outset unlike the other two, got a head start in domestic cricket
after being relieved of his five-year ban in January. His case was fast tracked
following an amendment in the ICC's code of conduct, allowing banned players to
feature in domestic matches a few months prior to the end of their ban if their
ban conditions and rehabilitation requirements are met.
Butt, Asif and Amir were banned for
10 (five years suspended), seven (two years suspended) and five years
respectively, after an ICC tribunal found them guilty of spot-fixing in a case
stemming from the 2010 Lord's Test. The possible reduction in the penalty came
on the condition that Asif and Butt would commit no further breach of the
anti-corruption code and participate in a PCB-controlled anti-corruption
education programme.
The same concessions were not
allowed to Asif and Butt, who were much more senior members of the Pakistan
squad when they transgressed. PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan said: "We will
tell the region [team] too they cannot play until they prove their ability at
the low level. They can't be allowed to play any national championship but can
only be allowed to play second-class cricket. They can't walk back in the
system with the reputation they had five years ago."
Comments
Post a Comment