Earlier in the day, Southwark Crown Court brought end to the most appalling scandal in the history of International Cricket, when final sentence was handed over to the guilty trio from Pakistan.
Southwark Crown Court’s Justice Cooke, in front of his jury announced the following jail time penalties for the defaulters:
- Salman Butt : 2 years and Six months
- Mohammad Asif : 1 year
- Mohammad Amir : 6 months
Alongside the lead role players, the director of the whole scenario; Mazhar Majeed was handed over 2 years and 8 months Jail custody as well. Verdict can be cut down to half in case of good behavior by the individuals.
Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mazhar Majeed will serve their sentence in the Central Prison, on the other hand it’s expected that the 19 year old ‘Child Culprit’ Amir will have to spend these 6 months in a ‘Young Offenders' Detention Centre’ instead of the Central Jail.
All this drama started off when Aamir and Asif collectively bowled three no-balls against England on the First Day (26th August 2010) of 4th and the Final Test
Match of the series against England 2010. Whole script was written-off by Mazhar Majeed (Manager of a few Pakistani Players then) and was successfully executed under the proctorship of Salman Butt (Pakistan’s Captain Back then). Whole thing was a sting operation by England’s former news agency: ‘News of The World’, whose undercover employee met Mazhar Majeed and trapped MM to spot-fix that match for him. Once Mazhar agreed to his terms, the NOTW employee paid him for the job and (secretly)recorded all this activity on the tape. On the 4th day of Lord’s Test Match, NOTW broke the story all over the world.
Butt and other two denied these charges first up, but as they say YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW, truth prevailed and Butt alongside others had to wear off their game-face. And by now they’ll be interior designing their prison cell.
Read Out what former cricketers and current analysts had to say about this dilemma.
As far as the reaction of these three players’ families is concerned, there has been mixed emotions/response.
Young Mohammad Amir’s brother Saleem believes that, Amir was too young to understand the intensity of what he was up to and was played into the whole situation. He says that as Mohammad Amir has apologized for what he has done, the nation must provide him with one more chance. Moreover he believes that 6 months in the prison are enough for a KID to learn his lesson.
Salman Butt’s father Zulfiqar sounded certain that it’s a trap and it’s nothing more than an accusation. He says Salman Butt’s so-called-friends weaved his name deep down this case. Zulfiqar who recently became the grandfather of Salman Butt’s 3 days old son was emotionally very limp when he demanded the concerned authorities to go through his family’s bank balance, who have not yet been able to construct their own house.
Asif’s father said that he’s been punished for good; moreover he said that he’s not committed any murder and he’ll be back home one day. Asif’s father stated that his family has not earned big deal out of cricket and Asif has never been the principal breadwinner for their family, he said: “What if Asif is punished? We have our livestock business, at least no one will die of hunger in our family!”.
All four Culprits reserve this right to appeal against the decision of Southwark Crown Court’s Justice Cooke and his jury. Mohammad Amir and Mazhar Majeed have already filed their entreaty in the Court to reconsider their cases.
Salman Butt’s lawyer too has clarified his stance to submit his plea in next 24 hours. Mohammad Asif and his official representative have been quiet so far.
This is how most dilemmatic day (shameful day in light of the spirit of the game yet a victory of good against the evil) in the history of cricket came to an end.
One Sentence from my side to sum all this up:
“GOOD RIDDANCE”
GeoSuper