Daily Times

LAHORE: Pakistan will play a full series against the West Indies in September and October starting with a three-match Twenty20 international series from September 23 for which the selectors have already announced a 15-member squad. Pakistan will also play three one-day internationals and as many Tests against the West Indies in the United Arab Emirates, for which squads will be announced shortly. The selectors, headed by former Test captain Inzamamul Haq, should seriously consider opener Salman Butt for both ODI and Test series. Salman is an answer to Pakistan’s opening woes. Since the lifting of his spot-fixing ban, Salman has given tremendous performance in the domestic circuit to show that he is not a shadow of his former self. The International Cricket Council (ICC) lifted sanctions on Salman in September last year, making him eligible for national and international matches.

He played his first domestic match for Water and Power Development Authority in the National One-day Tournament on January 10, 2016, where he scored a brilliant 143-ball 135, which included 14 boundaries. And his performance in the recently concluded National One-day Cup has also been praise worthy.

Many in this ‘land of the pure’ still have not digested the lifting of spot-fixing bans on former captain Salman and fast bowler Mohammad Asif. There has been much debate over whether the duo should be welcomed back or not. It is really interesting to see these so called opinion makers, including some former cricketers, with their own axe to grind, are giving lectures, statements and even writing columns on ethics and advocating that the duo, particularly Salman, should not be considered for representation in the Pakistan cricket team again. Now this is really hilarious. May be they consider themselves saints who have never committed any sins, errors, mistakes and blunders in their entire lives or may be they are the pure souls descended straight from heavens. Everyone is entitled to have his or her own opinion. At the same time one should also look into the mirror and judge his or her own conduct and personality before giving a damning verdict against those who are not hardcore criminals.

What these cricketers did was stupid. They thought that they would get away with it, but suffered the consequences of their actions. Is it that necessary to punish them again after what they went through: bans, reputation tarnished and jail terms. It seems that we are an unforgiving nation. The PCB’s unstinted support for pacer Mohammad Aamir, while ignoring the others in the same incident, smacks of injustice, double standard, favouritism and hypocrisy. Rehabilitation of offenders is an important principle that has benefits for individuals and society. Salman has a right to be rehabilitated after he has served out his punishment.

No doubt, there is a strong opinion that to set the right example against corruption in cricket, the PCB should never select Salman in the national side again. In legal terms and keeping in view the principles of fair play and justice, he cannot be denied a second chance. The questions which arise here are why are we so unforgiving in nature and why we are so vindictive and intolerant? The answer is quite simple. We are a confused society having double standards. We always allow our hearts to rule over our heads. Isn’t it a blatant hypocrisy to support Aamir and not Salman or Asif. Supporting a 24-year old against a 31-year old for committing the same offence is nothing but a mockery of justice. Age and circumstance should not alleviate the sentence if one has committed an intentional crime. Why should it be any different in this case? It is a harsh reality that we talk about morality, ethics and values day-in and day-out but seldom follow them. It’s unfortunate that a good work rarely makes news, and when it does, it doesn’t carry with it the same long memory that bad news seems to.

It’s really deplorable that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is everyone’s favourite whipping boy. We always put undue and unnecessary pressures on the PCB to get our ‘wishes’ fulfilled. Whenever the PCB try to take some remedial measures or goes against the ‘wishes’ of our worthy critics, all hell breaks loose. Even those who have never picked up a ball or bat are passionate critics. The media is particularly virulent. Criticism for the sake of criticism is the name of the game. Facts are irrelevant. Stories are routinely concocted. Character assassinations are par for the course. The worst detractors are ex-cricketers who fail to land plum jobs in the PCB because they are incompetent or unmerited. TV channel anchors are like batsmen in the last overs of a T20 match, constantly lash out at the PCB with lusty abandon. Unfortunately the cricket-loving public is also part of the problem. It only sees heroes and villains. When Team Pakistan win, they are passionately lauded and generously rewarded. When they lose, they are kicked to the ground. The PCB gets the worst of both worlds – when Pakistan win, the players are congratulated; when they lose, the PCB is abused.

Hardly an occasion goes by when someone or the other on TV or in print media isn’t calling for the resignation of the chairman or the sacking of the captain, coach, manager or chief selector of the national cricket team. This is the main cause of instability and uncertainty in Pakistan cricket. Now we are after the blood of Salman. The PCB and the selectors are getting ‘suggestions’ and ‘advises’ not to include Salman in any national outfit. What a shame! Like Aamir, Salman has also suffered enough. Since Salman has done the time for his crime, shown remorse and has also been cleared by the ICC, he is entitled to redeem himself by playing again. The PCB has put in a lot of time and money to ensure Aamir’s rehabilitation back into the game. It is simply not fair that Salman is not extended the same courtesies. Aamir has already made a steady return to international cricket.

Until the scandal hit, Salman, Asif and Aamir were in position to forge great careers and spearhead Pakistan to much better fortunes. In 2010, all three were at the forefront of turning around a team that was in disarray from infighting. Salman became the Test captain, Asif had somehow come back from doping suspensions to continue being a threat to any seasoned batsman on any surface, and Aamir was considered the hottest fast bowling prospect in the world. They were the three brilliant players of contemporary cricket, who should have been setting the world alight with their sporting feats. Their convictions not only battered the image of cricket but also that of the country. In short, Pakistan cricket hit rock bottom in 2011.

But this is perhaps what we should remember – Salman has paid for his crimes and an important aspect of meting out justice is that of rehabilitation, and that aspect must not be ignored here. What has happened has happened and he has accepted his guilt as well and apologised to the nation. Everyone makes mistakes. So why shouldn’t be Salman given a chance to play for Pakistan again depending on his performance. Why punish him again when he has already shown repentance. Repentance demonstrates that a person is ready to change and should be forgiven. For the sake of fair-play and consistency, the PCB should show the same passion as they did for Aamir.

Rehabilitation of offenders is an important principle that has benefits for individuals and society. Picking out a favourite for reprieve and treating the others as criminals for life is unfair and unjustified. Talented Salman deserves to be a part of Pakistan Test, ODI and T20 squads.