Should the PCB have stopped the current fixing episode before it happened?

[Abdullah719]

Sethi said the PCB had faced a difficult situation after the ACU had gathered enough material against the two players to charge sheet them. “We were not sure whether to make the announcement before the PSL began as we feared it could hit the event or after the match but we decided to wait and see what happened in the match and than we sent them back. We were worried how the whole thing could affect the PSL and its reputation but we took a decision which we felt was right,” Sethi said.

From what Sethi is saying, it sounds an awful lot like they knew about what was going on beforehand.

Should they have used their evidence to removed Sharjeel and Khalid from PSL before it started or were they right to allow the incident to happen (i.e. Sharjeel doing what bookmakers told him to, as per Sethi)?

 

[cricwiz]

It is a criminal negligence by PCB in my view...

Why, because sometimes an important player's contribution could have a great effect on the result. Sharjeel was an important player for IU and on that night they were chasing about 190+ runs. He got out cheaply, leaving his side with a mountain to climb - had Smith & Haddin not rescued their team, IU would have lost the match due to his alleged spot fixing...

 

[ads101]

It's difficult. Had they stopped it, they might not have had enough evidence to put Sharjeel away. People also would accuse them of covering things up if Sharjeel got a lesser ban as a result.

Think they've done fine. Glad they're transparent. Only thing i disapprove of is naming the guys who were under investigation without sufficient proof. E.g. Shahzaib who was later cleared. so is innocent. That's unfair, they shouldn't have leaked the names, just questioned them privately.

 

[Syed1]

Better to catch someone with a smoking gun in their hands, rather than a loaded gun in their pocket.

 

[Tekcirc]

Wow!! This is so bad. No wonder Imran was saying that PCB is trying to sweep it under the rug.

 

[Abdullah719]

Better to catch someone with a smoking gun in their hands, rather than a loaded gun in their pocket.

Alternatively, it's better to stop the crime from happening, if you have the evidence beforehand.

 

[Syed1]

Alternatively, it's better to stop the crime from happening, if you have the evidence beforehand.

Then the criminal can say in a court of law that I did not plan to go ahead with the crime and get a clean-chit from the judge.

 

[Abdullah719]

Then the criminal can say in a court of law that I did not plan to go ahead with the crime and get a clean-chit from the judge.

Sethi says they had enough evidence but were worried about the reputation of the PSL.

In my book, it would've been better for the reputation of the league if they stopped this from happening (and presented their evidence), rather than let it happen, then announce the scandal live on air and give a statement every five minutes about it.

If the evidence was not enough then they shouldn't be boasting about knowing about it beforehand.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Can't catch a criminal before a crime is committed.

 

[Jabo]

Nah

They saved us from investing into a hack.

 

[Cricfan4eva]

Alternatively, it's better to stop the crime from happening, if you have the evidence beforehand.

What if the source of the information wasn't convincing and wouldn't have nailed these corrupt players?

I guess Sethi is intelligent enough to allow fixing happen if he had solid evidence. Perhaps he didn't want to give the players any scope of defence by getting them caught while doing the act.

 

[Yaasir]

PCB definitely did the right thing for once. Had they caught Sharjeel before the act was committed he would have played the innocence card and would have argued he wasn't going to go ahead with the spot fixing deal. They caught him red handed with the smoking gun, enough to put him away for 5 years at least, if not for life. Good riddance. Don't need such in the Pakistan team.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Pakistan has been in a constant decline since 2000. Do you think casual behaviour by PCB in addressing match fixing , spot fixing also played a part (big or small) in the situation that PCT finds itself in today.

@MMHS @Markhor @Syed1 @Major

 

[Markhor]

Pakistan has been in a constant decline since 2000. Do you think casual behaviour by PCB in addressing match fixing , spot fixing also played a part (big or small) in the situation that PCT finds itself in today.

@MMHS @Markhor @Syed1 @Major

Not sure if there's a direct correlation but our weak response definitely blackened our reputation. That affects the attractiveness of your product amongst broadcasters and sponsors.

One of the reasons our TV rights sell for chump change is few companies want to do business with the toxic PCB. That massively limits our investment on uplifting grounds, pitches, coaching etc.