Payments made to Zimbabwe were ‘not bribes’: Khan
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Pakistan Cricket chief Shahryar Khan on Tuesday confirmed that a deal was struck with Zimbabwe but rubbished claims that the African side was ‘bribed’ into touring Pakistan.
Zimbabwe became the first Full Member team to tour Pakistan after the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan squad in 2009, but there were widespread rumours that the African players were payed $12,500 each to be convinced to make the visit. The news first emerged when the team ignored the advice of the Zimbabwe government's Sports and Recreation Committee (SRC) against touring violence-hit Pakistan.
The individual payments, according to ESPNCricinfo, were part of the US$500,000 the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is understood to have paid the Zimbabwe board before the tour and though the PCB remained mum on the issue hitherto, Khan admitted that a deal was in fact struck.
“It was just a one-off deal. It does not mean that we will be paying every team which tours Pakistan,” Khan said in an interview with [cricket.com.au][1].
“The Zimbabwe series was an exception. We are very thankful to Zimbabwe for visiting Pakistan.
“Now we will visit them in August which will be our return tour. The next series will be on bilateral terms. The team we will host will host us in return. It is as simple as that.”
The PCB chairman said it was time to look at the positives from the series and build upon the confidence that the Zimbabwe visit must have given to the international cricketing fraternity.
All the matches were played in front of a full house crowd. The sale of tickets was 100 per cent and we generated good revenue as well.
“The Zimbabwe players told us they had not received such a rousing welcome anywhere before.”
“The series was played in good environment and has shrugged off security fears.
“The series will also help us in staging Pakistan Super League in future.”
Khan confirmed his board was now in talks with Sri Lanka over a possible tour and it seemed ‘very likely’ judging by the statements of Sri Lanka cricket chief Sidath Wettimuny, who was invited by the PCB as a special guest during the Zimbabwe series.
“He was quite impressed to see the security arrangements, crowd and enthusiasm We are hopeful that Sri Lanka will tour Pakistan but there isn't any definite decision yet.”
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On DawnNews
Comments (75) Closed
Jun 12, 2015 02:41pm
PCB Chairman you did a great job for Pak Cricket!!!!
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Jun 12, 2015 02:43pm
The main question is where did PCB get that all money from? Do they even have money to support their players let alone bribe others?
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Jun 12, 2015 02:45pm
Bribes paid to get the Zimbabwe players to Pakistan. This will become a habit. Every other country demand the same. Full details of payments to the players, managers, officials and Zimbabwe politicians should be made public.
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Jun 12, 2015 03:09pm
PCB had done good job. Look What's happening all around. IPL, BIG THREE all are playing for money. WHAT IF PCB had paid something for revival of cricket in Pakistan.
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Jun 12, 2015 03:12pm
I have very much regard for Mr. Shahryar Khan who is a well wisher of Pakistan and Pakistan cricket. Having said this, I would like to add whatever you may call that lured Zimbabweans to Pakistan will not work for any other Test playing nation or at least for their A catagory players. Unless we clean our backyard completely nothing will work.
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Jun 12, 2015 03:29pm
Its not bribe. Its investment into the future of cricket in Pakistan. And people who think that all other professional teams and cricket boards will demand the same lop sided deals are mistaken becuase mere $12,000 are not enough to entice most of the teams to put their lives on the line
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Jun 12, 2015 03:31pm
International Cricket Council (ICC) need to investigate the payment of $ 500,000 to Zimbabwe cricket board and players to tour Pakistan. To established whether such payments come under the preview of corruption or not.
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Jun 12, 2015 03:34pm
Its not only illegal to bribe players but also immoral to hide that fact from the public. Now others may say Zimbabwe lost matches due to that bribe, undermining the performance and efforts of our cricket players.
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Jun 12, 2015 03:38pm
Now Pakistan should try BRIBING Kenyan Cricket Team to tour Pakistan. ........................ No other team would want to tour Pakistan even with BRIBE.
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Jun 12, 2015 03:45pm
Pakistan will now ask for more aid from US to host series once a year.
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Jun 12, 2015 04:00pm
End justifies means. We all grow up assuming ideal world just to realize its the way it is.
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Jun 12, 2015 04:19pm
PCB is rich!
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Jun 12, 2015 04:23pm
Mr sharyar if you honestly think that paying 13 k odd $ per player to teams of India, Australia or england would convince them in sending their teams then you are very naive. Secondly I fear this matter may get investigated now since it gives the impression of bribing. We have the FIFA case in front of us as to how corruption in sport is now being investigated. If these payment details weren't revealed to ICC then it could become a problem for PCB later!
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Jun 12, 2015 04:24pm
@Indian &fellow Indians here....we Indians can hardly take a higher moral ground here! Considering the sreenivasans here...anyways its just a game
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Jun 12, 2015 04:55pm
Sett Blatter & Jack Warner type deal done in WC football.
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Jun 12, 2015 04:58pm
but the question is will they get their money back when Pakistan visit them in August which will be a return tour?
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Jun 12, 2015 05:19pm
Whether bribed or dealt, revived the cricket in pakistan.
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Jun 12, 2015 05:29pm
The only thing should concern us is match fixing. We as a public want matches at home ground and do not care if they are paid extra which you call bribe
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Jun 12, 2015 05:32pm
according to reports 1 us $ is equal to 350000000000 in Zimbabwe currency and now they are planning to forfeit Zimbabwe currency and use the foreign currency like African rand or American dollar they are in serious financial crises so it is understood that why they take risk to play in Pakistan
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Jun 12, 2015 05:34pm
Pakistan and Zimbabwe KNOW that it was NOT s bribe, but a fee for services. Just like the peon at the office performs the service of opening the door to the boss's office so i can get redress for my concerns. Only the naive would call that a bribe.
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Jun 12, 2015 05:36pm
Worth the money.
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Jun 12, 2015 05:43pm
Pay 100,000 USD per player to West Indies or Sri Lankans; they will come; its nothing 2 million US dollars; 20 crore Pak Rs; Bahria Town should be made the sole sponsor and Malik Riaz can pay this; Pay 200,000 USd to Australians/New Zealanders/South Africans; they will come. Its all about money; every player is willing t0 go to IPL just for money; play the same tricks and this way we can balance BCCI tactics
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Jun 12, 2015 05:49pm
Shahryar Khan must do something to revive cricket in Pakistan and he did it. Some Pakistanis who usually take high moral ground against India or the 'Big 3 of Cricket' must note this.
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Jun 12, 2015 06:03pm
Was paying Zimbabwe a bribe? It is not difficult to understand who is using and spreading the word " bribe".
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Jun 12, 2015 06:07pm
@Sukkur Saheb: Can you explain the different between bribe and fee ?
Study contract law. I am surprised why this is even news and the media people asking such questions should be educated in these areas before bringing disrepute to their country.
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Jun 12, 2015 06:13pm
They should have had negotiated. With current state of economy in Zimbabwe they could have agreed for half !
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Jun 12, 2015 06:27pm
Simply put ... It's not the fear of terrorism or security, it's the size of the paycheck (or bribe) that will bring players to play in Pakistan or anywhere else for that matter. I am pretty sure if PCB announced that any team who comes to Pakistan and plays 2 tests, 3 ODI's and couple of T20's with very good security provided will get a million dollar each player, I am sure Aussies and English players will not turn down such a proposal.
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Jun 12, 2015 06:37pm
@lafanga
Risk and reward go together. Why else do you think IPL is such a hit and everyone including Pakistani players are dying to play ?
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Jun 12, 2015 06:49pm
@Indian This is what was expected from you "INDIAN" since you are now ultra jealous of why cricket revived in Pakistan. This is our "MAUKA" not yours :)
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Jun 12, 2015 07:02pm
@LAFANGA: WOW! A million dollar/player means Rs 150 crore (Pakistani) for entire team and including support staff plus security it will be Rs 170 crore lump sum. Have to say budget wise Pakistan will give tough competition to any of the Tennis Grand Slam.
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Jun 12, 2015 07:11pm
Look at Zimbabwe's economic situation. Their currency devalued so much that they have scrapped it now and using other countries currencies. So it is not surprising to see why Zimbabwe toured Pakistan.
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Jun 12, 2015 07:12pm
Even if it is bribe, it's for a good cause. Win win for the teams. Nothing wrong. We see bollywood stars and business tycoons controlling Indian cricket through IPL. What is wrong in this case?
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Jun 12, 2015 07:16pm
@Zahid Khan i am agree with your comments because some one is saying that PCB chairman has given bribe this utterly wrong,our PCB chairman is not naive as said by commentator in dawn news ,actually he wants to bring revival of cricket in Pakistan,and this series did not undermined the performance of playes ,as all witnessed that Mr jun aid a grooming player came on the scene of cricket
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Jun 12, 2015 07:24pm
Zimbabwe team is cash trapped and can take that money even if it for lose of game.
This is a win-win situation for both team. Regardless how it is viewed.
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Jun 12, 2015 07:38pm
whose money is it?
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Jun 12, 2015 07:42pm
@Aviral - Must you really know, PCB earns its money just as BCCI does or other boards do.
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Jun 12, 2015 08:24pm
@Khawar Saleem Aslam Perhaps looking from sub-continental perspective probably not but from internationally understood morality Yes.
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Jun 12, 2015 08:27pm
@SRK That sort of clears Zimbabweans for their desperation.But allegation is against PCB.
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Jun 12, 2015 08:38pm
Please bring more teams to play in Pakistan even if you have to pay them off.
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Jun 12, 2015 08:41pm
We got what we wanted - an international team played in Pakistan with minimal problems and hopefully others will follow suit. If we incentivised a visiting team by paying them a risk premium then it can be explained in that manner rather than through accusations of bribery which is not constructive... Look at it from Zimbabwe's view (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-06-11/zimbabwe-officially-removes-local-currency-from-circulation)... US$5 = 175 quadrillion ZimDollars! Where would they rather play?
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Jun 12, 2015 08:42pm
How is this different from a player accepting money to bowl a no-ball or for dropping any catches? If PCB does it it is legal and illegal if players do this individually?
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Jun 12, 2015 08:55pm
Frankly speaking, if not bribe, what else can we call it in a honest, open, civilized, mature, educated and transparent society?
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Jun 12, 2015 09:03pm
Something out of box needed to be done to revive cricket and that's what PCB chairman did. Please appreciate.
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Jun 12, 2015 09:16pm
The international community have spent billions and billions of dollars to counter and discourage terrorists and all forms of terrorism, physically and morally. Inviting Zimbabwe players and let them play full series at Pakistan, as such defeating the waves and fear of terror beclouding the sports, was a good initiative. For the sports loving people and more specially cricket fans PCB and Zimbabwe Cricket Authorities both deserve appreciation and applauds.
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Jun 12, 2015 09:23pm
@charu Well said my man, we are all ship mates unfortunately of the same ship
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Jun 12, 2015 09:28pm
PCB chairman , Shahryar Khan, says "One off deal. Not a bride"
Really ??
Brides are one off deals !!
Pakistan cricket will improve if Shahryar Khan was kicked off from PCB, what a politician.
Real problem for our cricket is,
We have a cricketer , trying to become a politician -- Imran Khan
Politician trying to become a cricketer - Shahryar Khan !!
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Jun 12, 2015 09:39pm
What about the bomb blast next to the stadium when the game was on?
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Jun 12, 2015 09:54pm
lol....ofcourse it wasn't a bribe....PCB had to pay money to convince the board to accept their offer....let's just cal it 'bakhshish' ;)
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Jun 12, 2015 10:03pm
Cant call this bribe. Kind of insurance. No one would have sold insurance for you to travel to Pakistan and even if they do, the premium would have been really high. So, $12500 is kind of an insurance. It was a win-win situation for the Zimbabwe players and Pakistan cricket
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Jun 12, 2015 10:21pm
Pakistani players should also be paid. Their lives were as much at stake.
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Jun 12, 2015 10:27pm
Of course it was a bribe, why else would Zimbabwe come and play here
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Jun 12, 2015 11:03pm
good going......
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Jun 12, 2015 11:06pm
Let's not call it bribe, it would be harsh. But you can say cricketers from Zimbabwe were hired to play in Pakistan. And I don't think others would follow.
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Jun 12, 2015 11:09pm
@Oz
I guess if it's not disclosed to ICC, it's a bribe. Payments or financial transactions between boards and players, as well as between one board and another, are all transparent and made public. In this case it wasn't.
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Jun 12, 2015 11:10pm
Ethically and morally it is wrong,it is a simple case of bribe as the world sees it.
Did the package of bribe also include to Zimbabwe
to concede matches?
Pakistan should spend the money on its poor instead
of arranging games for its elites.
The world body of Cricket must investigate them.
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Jun 12, 2015 11:54pm
Do Pakistan got an oil well?
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Jun 12, 2015 11:55pm
This wont work with other teams and is ultimately bad for cricket both for Pakistan and other countries. But then again why doesn't the ICC help Zimbabwe cricket team so that they don't need take bribes.
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Jun 13, 2015 12:00am
It sure looks like a bribe to me. I have never heard of any cricketing board pay money to another team to persuade them to visit.
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Jun 13, 2015 12:14am
Nothing but paid Life Insurance Premium....that is ok
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Jun 13, 2015 01:24am
@Imran Let's first become equal to BCCI and than we can be in a position to "balance" as you said.
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Jun 13, 2015 02:09am
@lafanga Yes, such an offer will attract players from all the countries. In fact, what you offered is way better than IPL deals.
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Jun 13, 2015 02:30am
Given enough incentive and security, they will play even if terrorists were camped outside the stadium.
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Jun 13, 2015 02:56am
Everything in this world has a price....you just have to know the amount......
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Jun 13, 2015 03:37am
He did what he felt was a right thing to do to revive cricket in Pakistan. Government is doing nothing to ease the threat of terror. At least he took a bold step. Will it bring other teams to Pakistan to play cricket, we will wait and see. Overall good move from a leader to get fans excited. Now government has to crack down on all forms of terrorism.
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Jun 13, 2015 03:55am
Win win situation, so we got win and they got money.
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Jun 13, 2015 04:04am
When all things fail, a little "incentive" provided discreetly always seems to work.....
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Jun 13, 2015 04:28am
Mr Sharyar your efforts r appreciated, now request bring / change aggressive Captain in ODI & Coach from qualified experienced local not from Sydney. Than call world class team given them Insurance $1M each player and give them good fees, you will good sponsors. but regret that present ODI coach and captain you will not get result.
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Jun 13, 2015 05:16am
Waste of tax payors money
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Jun 13, 2015 05:42am
Pakistan Cricket chief Shahryar Khan did a wonderful job for PCB and Pakistan. Kudos to him. Zimbabwe did what suited them best. Still it was a great gesture. It was needed for the people of Pakistan/Lahore to be entertained. They got it and some ray of hope for the future. In the end, it was almost a success story notwithstanding the bomb scare, the hush-hush and that it was played in rather a confined environment. It was still great!
Now the question of extra payments may or may not be termed as bribe. It depends on how you view it. But this should have been explained earlier and voluntarily. To this extent, it may seem tainted and these matches may be de-classified as part of an unofficial tournament. Would such tournament be a catalyst for other teams to come and play in Pakistan, it would seem a utopia at this time. You almost have to do it encore to prove others wrong!
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Jun 13, 2015 05:47am
@Sultan Ahmed.
I agree with your statement 100%.
PCB chairman should resign or he should be terminated from his job. I believe Zimbabwe did not win any game because of it.
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Jun 13, 2015 05:51am
Government should tell us exactly how much money was made and how money was spent, including the money each player received for playing game in Pakistan.
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Jun 13, 2015 10:01am
@Imran No need of malik riaz PCB have enough Money to pay There net worth is 65 million $ before 5 years now you can imagine
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Jun 13, 2015 10:31am
PCI gave cricket priority rather than using this money for development and security of common people of Pakistan.
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Jun 13, 2015 11:10am
@Khawar Saleem Aslam There is a difference between bribe and "INCENTIVE". In my opinion it was an incentive given to the Zimbabwe players for supporting the cause of Pakistan i.e revival of International Cricket in Pakisttan.
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Jun 13, 2015 11:28am
@lafanga the issue is, what is the point of having an event in such tight security ? This is nothing but Ego massage. Imagine spending 10 crores on security and earning 8 crores from the series....incomprehensible, right?
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