WaseemBhai
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WASEEM SIDDIQUI
He was not Imran Khan. He was not Waseem Akram. He was not Waqar Younus.
He did not match Imran in speed. He could not swing the ball both ways as Waseem. He was not able to bowl lethal toe-crushing yorkers at will like Waqar.
But he was only an 18-year old. Naive and unable to understand the dirty politics. But he was considered to Imran, Waseem and Waqar one day. He was the hottest property on world cricket at that early stage of his career.
He was not Dennis Lillee. He was not Allan Donald. He was not Glen McGrath. But he was considered to be the most potent new ball bowler of his age. People used to compare him to McGrath not for nothing.
Both these two had one thing in common. They were both Pakistan's future. And had to leave the circuit---disgraced and tainted.
They had another Pakistani with them. They forever will have to live with their sins. Labelled cheaters and known as 'tainted trio'.
The third one was not a Sunil Gavaskar. Not a Gorden Greenidge. Not even Saeed Anwar. But still at a relatively young age was holding the mantle of being Pakistan Skipper. He had the promise of one day becoming a great.
But, alas, all three of them are wandering into oblivion.
Not only they and their families are standing degraded and disgraced the Pakistan cricket and for that matter the whole nation have been ridiculed because of them. They committed a crime and their actions cannot be condoned at any level.
Still they have been punished enough. A punishment is meant to be a deterrent. If a criminal serves his sentence, becomes repentant and is ready to lead a clean life he deserves to be given a second chance.And the three are not hardened criminals, killers or terrorists.
Amidst all the hype surrounding the Twenty-20 World Cup in Bangladesh a very important development went unnoticed. A statement by ICC CEO David Richardson said that the ICC is considering changes in its rule with an aim to 'integrate' banned players.
This brings a ray of hope for banned players who can now look forward to playing competitive cricket before their ban period is over.
The Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) of the ICC is considering changes in its rules with an aim to 'integrate' banned players and the new code will be implemented as early as June, Richardson said on Friday.
There are some amendments being considered to the anti-corruption code, and one of those amendments deal with how we we integrate back into cricket, Richardson said.
"So if someone is banned for five years, can he come and play domestic cricket or club cricket a little bit earlier, so that when his five-year ban expires internationally he can resume his career. The revised code will deal with that."
Richardson said it will not be dealing specifically with an individual's case; but it will be principles that might be applied to decide who might be banned now or in future'" Richardson clarified.
It may still not be enough for Mohammad Aamir, Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt to be able to play in the 2015 World Cup.The ICC has indicated that even if there is a relaxation given to Aamir in his five year ban it will come after the World Cup.
"The committee has so far not submitted the findings and are expected to do so at the next meeting in April.," an ICC official was of the view.
A Pakistan Cricket Board official has been quoted as saying that its chairman Najam Sethi has been told by the ICC that even if Aamir gets some relaxation in his ban it would not be for more than four to five months which means he will be still out of the World Cup.
Aamir is the most likely to return to world cricket as he still would be only 23 by the end of his term. At present he can't even use the PCB facilities or train under its coaches and trainers and some relaxation would still go a long way in helping him return to international cricket.
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