The conviction and sentencing of some Pakistani Test players is a sad day for Pakistan cricket: PCB.—AFP photo

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which has consistently failed in preventing its players from getting involved in nasty scandals such as the spot-fixing scam at Lord’s, on Thursday issued a statement with reference to the conviction and punishment given to cricketers Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir on Thursday.

The official statement, issued by PCB spokesman Nadeem Sarwar, said: “The conviction and sentencing of some Pakistani Test players is a sad day for Pakistan cricket,” the statement said.

“Instead of having pride in playing for their country, these [three] players chose to disappoint their supporters, damage the image of their country and bring the noble game of cricket into disrepute. There is little sympathy in Pakistan for the sorry pass they have come to.

“The PCB is determined to ensure that any form of corrupt behaviour in Pakistan cricket is stamped out. In order to do this following steps are being undertaken:

1. Training courses under the PCB education programme would be upgraded for all players, particularly younger entrants into international cricket to inform them of the law and spirit of the game, the inducements that may be offered to them by unscrupulous elements, and the pitfalls associated with deviant behaviour.

2. Strict vigilance protocols to be introduced to monitor the game, devise appropriate rules and procedures of conduct, and keep away bad elements always on the lookout to trap players.

3. The code of conduct and the parameters of registering and approving anyone desirous of being an agent of the players will be reviewed and strengthened further. No unauthorised hiring of agents would be permitted.

4. A recommendation would be made to the government to consider passing a law in the Parliament making corruption in sports a criminal offence. This would not only be a deterrence, but would also allow proper prosecution and punishment for criminal behaviour.

“These are just some of the measures being contemplated by the PCB. More would follow as and when the need arises. Ridding Pakistan cricket of any possible corrupt behaviour will remain a high priority for the PCB.

“The PCB will also work closely with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and its member boards in ensuring that the game of cricket globally is made totally free from the taint of corruption,” the statement concluded.

Photographs of Aamir are seen on display in a room at his family residence in Changa Bangial village.—AFP

LONDON: Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Aamir, jailed for six months on Thursday for his involvement in cricket’s spot-fixing scandal, has blamed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for not educating players enough.

“I was not given enough information about the anti-corruption code by the PCB,” Aamir told a news channel in London shortly after having his bail application rejected.

The 19-year old criticised his former captain Salman Butt and team mate Mohammad Asif, also both jailed on Thursday for their involvement in spot-fixing, for slandering him during the trial.

“They tried to rubbish my reputation and name during the trial and when the time comes I will reveal everything about this case,” Aamir said.

“I am really sorry for what has happened and I regret what I have done. I apologise to the Pakistani people for my actions,” Aamir added.

“I never realised what I was getting into,” he said. “If at that time I had known it was going to end this way I would have stayed clear. I got carried away and it was the biggest mistake of my life.”

India's Trade Minister Anand Sharma and his Pakistani counterpart Makhdoom Amin Fahim (R) attend the India-Pakistan Business Conclave, organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), in New Delhi, September 29, 2011. — Photo by Reuters

NEW DELHI: Pakistan has backtracked since announcing earlier this week that it had granted India the status of Most Favoured Nation (MFN) in trade, a senior Indian government source said on Friday.

The MFN status would help normalise trade relations between the two states by ending heavy restrictions on what India is allowed to export across the border. New Delhi granted its neighbour such a status in the mid-nineties.

Business and political lobbies in Pakistan appear to have forced the move to be put on hold, leaving India to “wait and watch” as to when the process would resume, the source told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

“From the initial announcement of an unconditional grant of an MFN, there appears to be a clear backtrack,” the source said.

Trade has long been tied to political issues between the hostile neighbours, who have fought three wars since independence from Britain in 1947.

Wednesday’s announcement was trumpeted on both sides as a milestone in improving fragile relations that were shattered by attacks by militants in Mumbai in 2008.

Lasting peace between the two countries is seen as key to stability in the South Asian region and as help a troubled transition in Afghanistan as Nato-led forces plan their military withdrawal from that country.

India and Pakistan may be home to some 1.4 billion people but bilateral trade flows are paltry — a legacy of mistrust between the neighbours.

The hope is that an increase in trade will feed into wider trust between the two countries and help the rivals resolve major flashpoints like the disputed Kashmir region, although a solution to this problem has proved intractable for decades.

The two sides have also pledged to liberalise restrictions on business visas, curb non-tariff barriers and bolster trade on their land border. As things stand, exporters are forced to route many goods via third parties such as Dubai, slowing delivery times and upping costs.

Less than one per cent of India’s merchandise exports are sold to Pakistan, in terms of dollar value, but in September a joint statement pledged to double bilateral trade flows within three years to about $6 billion.

The court has already issued arrest warrants against Musharraf and Aziz in the Bugti case.—AP photo

QUETTA: A court on Friday issued an arrest warrant against former Balochistan chief minister Jam Mohammad Yousuf in the Bugti killing case, DawnNews reported.

Judicial Magistrate Faisal Hameed issued the warrant against Jam Yousuf.

Sources said that a special crime branch team investigating the case had received the warrant.

Yousuf was a co-accused in the case, including former president Pervez Musharraf, former premier Shaukat Aziz and former Balochistan governor Owais Ahmed Ghani

The court has already issued arrest warrants against Musharraf and Aziz.

Moreover, the Balochistan High Court (BHC) has also directed the provincial government to extradite Aziz and Musharraf.