Pakistan Cricket: Banned trio needs to be in rehab Opinion Pakistan’s banned trio of left-handed batsman Salman Butt, pacer Mohammad Amir and seam bowlerMohammad Asif needs to be put in rehab after being adjudged guilty in the spot-fixing case against them.The players have now been banned from taking part in any cricket related activities in or outside Pakistan.The former Test captain Butt has been banned for 10 years, Asif for seven years and the young sensation Amir for five years by the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) anti-corruption unit.This has almost ended Salman Butt’s career and there isn’t any hope left for Asif to make a comeback after seven years either. However, Amir who is just 19 years old has some hope of making an international comeback after five years.Nevertheless, it is time for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to help in the players’ rehabilitation process. Especially it is crucial for the Board to make sure that the young Amir doesn’t lose his way by ending up some where he might regret for the rest of his life.After the spot-fixing debacle, the PCB introduced a new code of conduct within Pakistan cricket in a bid to eradicate the culture of corruption in the country’s sport.The Board has introduced an educational programme for the players in which the basic goal is to enlighten them about all the rules and regulations of the ICC regarding match-fixing and spot-fixing.The programme is also aimed at educating the players to stay away from potential bookmakers.Such a programme can be extremely helpful for the banned trio, especially Amir. According to the person in charge of the programme, Wasim Bari, about 320 players have taken part in the programme and more are expected to follow.The chairman PCB, Ijaz Butt has also expressed his desire to enrol the banned players in the programme to help them in their rehab process. Talking on the matter in a previous interview Butt said, “I hope that this unfortunate saga is put to rest and we can concentrate on cricket. We will continue to work with the ICC on this sensitive matter. We will also see how we can help the three players with their education and rehabilitation programme.”With the help of this programme, perhaps PCB will manage to save the upcoming cricketers from getting involved in match-fixing related controversies.The trio also needs to spend a few sessions with a PCB hired psychiatrist, who would be able to judge their exact mental state because up till now the trio has shown no signs of remorse, which is most disturbing.These individuals have been found guilty of a crime and they need to realize this fact the sooner the batter. All evidence suggested that they were indeed involved in wrong doings but even then no one has seen any show of self guilt from the tainted players. This probably exhibits that the players are still in a state of denial or feel that what they did was not wrong.Now that the career of at least two of the players is nearly over, they need to show some regret, if any. By doing so they may succeed in redeeming their lost integrity in the eyes of the world as there is no shame in admitting one’s shortcomings.Ijaz Butt also needs to remember one thing that Pakistan cricket cannot move forward by leaving these players behind. It should be the Board’s top priority to help the players in their rehabilitation
