PCB awaits apology from Aamir (7 May 1997)

07 May 1997 PCB awaits apology from Aamir; no pressure: Majid

By Our Sports Reporter

KARACHI, May 6: The Chief Executive of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Majid Khan, has denied speculations that pressure was mounting on him to reverse the two-year ban on Aamir Sohail.

"There is no pressure on us," Majid said from his Lahore residence. "It is just kite-flying. Nobody is pressurising us to reverse our decision which has been endorsed by the Executive Council purely to curb indiscipline," Majid added. "I personally feel that anybody involved in breaking the law or code of conduct should be taken to task and it is what the Disciplinary Committee has done," said Majid when asked what his views were on the two-year ban imposed on Aamir Sohail.

On Tuesday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spokesman said the board was still waiting for an apology from Aamir Sohail which can be forwarded to the Executive Council for reconsideration of the ban. According to a BBC World Service report while the Prime Minister's Adviser asked the PCB to overturn the ban, the cricketer, Aamir Sohail, felt grateful to the Government to listen to his side of the complaint. He said he had all the papers and was prepared to prove his allegations to the Government in the interest of the country.

"Mr Mushahid Husain, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Media Coordination and Sports, in the meeting, had proposed that while Aamir Sohail will tender a written apology for his acts of insolence and misbehaviour, the PCB should in return lift the two-year ban imposed on him," a PCB Press release said. "Aamir Sohail is welcome to submit his letter of apology which will be placed before the PCB Executive Council for consideration," the statement, signed by Lt Col (Retd) Rafi Nasim, the board PRO, added.

Majid Khan stated that Aamir Sohail had an indefinite time to appeal. "He can appeal anytime. As soon as he files his petition, it will be forwarded to the Executive Council. "The Chairman of the PCB (Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah Bokhari) can only call a meeting of the Executive Council," Majid replied when asked if the PCB Chairman can ask the Disciplinary Committee to exonerate Aamir Sohail of all charges. Replying to a question about what would be the status of the Council which will reverse its less than two-week old decision just on the apology of Aamir Sohail, Majid Khan said: "Don't speculate. Nothing of this sort will happen."

According to independent sources, Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah Bokhari, after his meeting with Mushahid Husain on Sunday, had urged for reversal of the decision. "Mr Mushahid had told the PCB official that Aamir Sohail would be submitting his apology before Sunday noon. But Bokhari was keen to reverse it before the formalities were completed. He only stopped arguing when he was told by the Disciplinary Committee that if any such thing happened, the members would en bloc resign.

"Majid also took a firm stand saying that this can't happen and he would step down if the government tried to dictate terms," sources, requesting anonymity, said.

The three-member Disciplinary Committee was at the Qadhafi Stadium on Sunday to probe into the match-fixing allegations in the Patron's Trophy Grade Two match between UGC and Pakistan Railways. The case was dismissed when the two umpires stated that the match was played in a good spirit and they don't think it was a fixed one. Nevertheless, Majid Khan has summoned the two captains again after they failed to turn up on Sunday.

Sources further emphasised that the Pakistan cricket team players were also disturbed when they were told that the decision on Aamir Sohail may be reversed. "The players had a meeting with the PCB officials on Sunday where they expressed fears about the likely change of decision. Some of the players have informed the PCB that they might not be available for selection if Aamir Sohail was exonerated and selected again."

The PCB Press release, faxed to newspaper offices, is: "To set at rest the anxiety and apprehensions about the punishment awarded to Aamir Sohail, it is clarified that a meeting took place between Mr Mushahid Husain, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Sports, and Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah Bokhari, Chairman, PCB, at Lahore in which the issue was discussed in detail. Mr Mushahid Husain proposed that while Aamir Sohail will tender a written apology for his acts of insolence and misbehaviour, the PCB should in return lift the two-year ban imposed on him.

"The Chairman PCB made it clear that since the punishment had been ratified by the PCB Council, neither the Chairman nor the Chief Executive had the powers to exonerate him. Aamir Sohail is welcome to submit his letter of apology which will be placed before the PCB Council for consideration.

"Aamir Sohail is giving an impression that Chairman PCB and Chief Executive have personal grudge against him which is wrong. His letter of apology will be considered on pure merit and no injustice will be done to him. His apology has not been yet received."

Source:: Dawn (https://xiber.com/dawn/)