Ball-tampering and match-fixing have always degraded Pakistan’s image in world cricket. Be it in international matches or domestic circuit, these issues have kept on coming from time to time. Now again, Pakistan cricket is in the news for wrong reasons; however, this time, a player has revealed such information.
Pakistan’s all-rounder Imad Wasim on Thursday said he had raised the issue of ball-tampering in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) during a pre-tournament meeting with match referee Roshan Mahanama.
After listening to Imad, the veteran match referee made it clear that the International Cricket Council (ICC) strictly prohibits these things, to which, the Karachi Kings (a PSL team) captain told that it would be difficult to stop ball-tampering incidents in the PSL. After this, Quetta Gladiators’ head coach, Moin Khan, asked Imad to name those players who are involved in such activities.
If speculations are to be believed, then Imad had taken names of Wahab Riaz, Sohail Khan, and Ravi Bopara.
“I feel for those who make such blunders. Cricket is our bread and butter, and we can’t earn doing anything else. I can only feel for them because I know the sort of mental, physical, and emotional pressure an affected family goes through in such circumstances because one individual made a mistake,” said Imad as quoted by India Today.
The 31-year-old also suggested that if any player gets caught doing such illegal activity, then his captain should be held liable for the offense.
I even suggested at the meeting that if any team or players are caught doing this, their captain should be banned for the offense,” Wasim added.
The No.5 ranked T20I bowler also supported Sharjeel Khan, who is making a comeback after serving the ban for the same mistake.
“You can sense he is feeling the pressure and is constantly under the glare. But we are supporting him, and we are confident he will come through. He has shown courage and is bravely facing the situation,” Imad added further.
