The London court verdict that found two of Pakistan’s cricketers guilty of a fixing scam had tarnished the game and nation, the country’s media and cricket fans have said.
Former captain Salman Butt and Mohammed Asif were both found guilty of cheating and accepting corrupt payments.
They both agreed to purposefully bowl no-balls during a Test Match against England at Lords in 2010.
Another bowler, Mohammad Amir admitted the charges before the trial and he, along with Mr Mutt and Mr Asif will wither face seven years in prison or very large fines.
M Haroon Siddiquim writing for The Nation said that it was a “very disappointing and sad day for Pakistan, for the players and Pakistan cricket.”
Readers of Pakistani newspaper Dawn.com, were equally disappointed.
A reader named Usman Aftab said, “We Pakistanis fully support the court verdict! All the three should be handed the worst possible punishment! Indeed a shameful day for all of us!”
Mathu Kumar said, “I wish Pakistanis show they have self respect and love for their country by hitting these guys with tomatoes and rotten eggs when they come back”
But some readers seemed less surprised, claiming that corruption was bound to happen.
Amyn Lakhani said, “Modern day cricket has changed drastically in all spheres of the game. So much money is involved now that it is humanly impossible to keep the temptations away”
Another reader, H S Bedi said, “Corruption is the way of life in India and Pakistan. Without corruption you cannot survive. If their trick had been found out in Pakistan no charges would have been brought. It was their ill luck they were so naive as to be caught and that too in England.”
However, Shahid Afridi, one of Pakistan’s highest-profile players, believes that the outcome of the scandal should serve as a warning.
“Our country, our cricket, has been disgraced. This is a lesson,” he said.
