June 05, 2008	Thursday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 30, 1429

KARACHI, June 4: Pakistan’s former captain Ramiz Raja on Wednesday rebuked Mohammad Asif for allegedly carrying contraband drugs resulting in his detention at the Dubai airport and said the pacer should “move and act responsibly”.

“It is a sad event obviously. I don’t know whether he was carrying medicinal drugs or whether it was some objectionable stuff. But at the end of the day, he is a role model and also an icon in Pakistan and has to move and act responsibly.

“He should know how to conduct himself. Obviously, the issue has hurt Pakistan cricket badly,” said Ramiz.

The former opening batsman added that it was unfortunate that whenever Pakistan cricket showed signs of stability, it was jolted by such damaging incidents.

He, however, refused to blame the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for such incidents involving players. “I am not sure because at the end of the day they all are professional athletes. So it is not the sole responsibility of the cricket board to groom them all the time. Some of them are married people and have got responsibilities to the society and themselves,” Ramiz stated.

“So to a certain extent the PCB can be held responsible but at the end of the day it is the cricketer’s call as to how he wants to be remembered and how he wants to be known in cricket world. It is a bit of both but I shall put the blame on Asif for this one,” he added.

Another former captain Rashid Latif said the board should evolve a new code of conduct to deal specifically with such issues. “I feel bad for Asif but it is a fact this incident has badly hurt the image of Pakistan cricket,” he said.

Rashid said the board should have a code under which players should be fined or banned immediately for coming late, nightclubbing, drinking or drug use. “There is no need to have any disciplinary committee, just take swift action and don’t hide things. That would control the players from indulging in such stupid acts,” he said.—Agencies