Disclose names or face criminal case: Dasti to Butt

Karachi:

The head of the National Assembly standing committee on sports Jamshed Dasti threatened to file a criminal case against Ejaz Butt if the PCB chief did not disclose the names of players suspected of match-fixing.

PCB Chairman Butt yesterday stunned the cricket world by saying that ICC had given them credible match-fixing evidence against two of their players.

However he later retracted, saying he was referring to some old players and not the current ones.

Dasti said Butt must disclose the names of the players whether former or current.

"Whether he is talking about current or old players we think the nation has the right to know what is going on in Pakistan cricket," Dasti, a strong critic of Butt, said.

Dasti's committee has already summoned Butt and other PCB officials for a hearing on March 6 to discuss cricket matters.

Dasti said the match-fixing issue would now take centre stage at the hearing.

"Butt is creating confusion and damaging the image of Pakistan cricket with his statements. We will definitely instruct Butt to disclose the names of these players he is talking about and if he refuses to give details, the committee would use its powers and recommend filing a criminal case against him for making false allegations," Dasti said.

Dasti said the PCB Chairman has made it a habit of doing flip-flops on every statement.

"I think enough is enough. Either he speak the facts or admit he is just making statements without any thought or logic."

When reminded that he (Dasti) himself had made match-fixing allegations against former captain Younus Khan and other players after last year's Champions Trophy, Dasti said, he had just responded to the complaints made by some people.

"I never said directly that the ICC had sent evidence of any player or any player was under investigation for match-fixing," Dasti said.

Butt also faced media flak after making a U-turn on the issue.