Lahore: Pakistan’s disastrous tour of England Test tour seems to be going from bad to worse.
After effecting sweeping changes in the team — seven players including some seniors and two coaches were asked to return home — following disastrous defeats in the first two Test matches, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has now initiated an ‘internal disciplinary enquiry’.
PCB spokesperson Amir Mir said on Monday that the Board was looking into media reports concerning discipline and conduct within the team.
“The Pakistan Cricket Board has initiated an internal disciplinary enquiry following media reports concerning discipline and conduct, which are currently being reviewed internally. The PCB handles such matters in accordance with its standard procedures. The process is being conducted under PCB regulations, ensuring that all concerned individuals are given due consideration,” Mir said in a statement.
The PCB, however, did not provide details of allegations or indicate whether the enquiry was linked to specific player/s.
And though Mir said “speculative reports or unverified claims” circulating on certain platforms, particularly those originating from hostile external sources, should not be regarded as credible, the rumour mill was buzzing in Pakistan and across the cricket world.
Pakistan media reports suggested that the reasons behind the sensational changes midway through the tour, with one Test match still to be played, could go beyond poor performances.
Many linked the ‘disciplinary enquiry’ to a potential match-fixing scandal.
The theory was further fuelled after a report by Pakistani outlet 365 News claimed that the PCB confiscated mobile phones of a few players.
The recent developments have revived memories of Pakistan’s infamous spot-fixing scandal in the 2010 Lord’s Test against England.
Then-captain Salman Butt, pacers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were found guilty of accepting money from a bookmaker in return for deliberately bowling no-balls at pre-arranged junctures.
The trio was handed bans and prison sentences.
Last month, after Pakistan lost the Lord’s Test by 194 runs in two-and-a-half days, following an innings defeat in the opening Test, PCB axed Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Imam-ul-Haq, Ali Usman, Khurram Shahzad, Aamir Jamal and Muhammad Awais Zafar from the squad. Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were also removed.
Seven players were then added to the squad for the final Test.
PCB Director of High Performance Aaqib Javed added fuel to the fire when he criticised Imam-ul-Haq over his supposed calf injury during the Lord’s Test.
The opener had suffered a low-grade calf tear, and did not bat in either innings. Aaqib questioned how the injury could have prevented the opener from batting altogether and said Imam would have to face an enquiry.
“The Imam injury is a big question mark, and a deep disappointment,” Aaqib told Pakistan broadcaster Geo. “I can’t say he faked it, but a muscle pull like that cannot stop you from batting altogether.”
