Former chief selector Abdul Qadir today blasted PCB for revoking the one-year ban on Shoaib Malik, saying the move has set a bad precedent, which would sully the image of the Cricket Board.
Malik was handed the ban by a PCB enquiry committee, which probed into team’s poor show in Australia.
Malik along with five other penalised players filed an appeal against the punishment and the appeals judge today overturned the ban, saying the cricketer was a reformed person now.
Qadir though believes that the political pressure has influenced the decision of the judge, who also reduced fine imposed on Malik from two to one million rupees.
“By taking such decisions the board is only encouraging the players to move out of line. Once the board had taken a strong decision against the players it should have stuck with it no matter what political pressure they had to face.
“I just think even if necessary the Chairman and chief operating officer of the board should have resigned instead of crumbling under this pressure,” Qadir said.
Qadir said the Board should adopt a uniform policy for all players.
“If they have removed Malik’s ban then there is no justification for keeping the bans and fines on other players.
Then the bans on Younis Khan, Muhammad Yousuf and Rana Naved must also be removed immediately,” he demanded.
“The board should avoid giving an impression that it gives preferential treatment to some players,” he added.
The former Test player said keeping in mind the policies and performance of the Board today’s decision was not surprising.
“The Board has been working this way for the last two years and that is why we see problems.”
Another former player, Basit Ali was also critical of the decision. He questioned how the board monitored the behaviour and attitude of Malik when he hardly spent time in the country.
“He has remained abroad for most of the time since he was banned. I don’t see why the other players like Younis and Yousuf should remain banned now,” he said.
Basit said it was obvious that the Board was not treating Younis Khan justly.
