KARACHI: Captain of Pakistan women’s ODI team Sana Mir wants stern action against spot-fixers aimed at eradicating the menace of fixing from the game of cricket.

“Whoever disrespects the green-shirt should be banned and punished without any mercy,” Sana told reporters here at the National Stadium on Monday where a training camp for women started the other day.

Match-fixing and spot-fixing had brutally damaged the image of Pakistan cricket as well as that of Pakistan, she lamented.

“This is a very serious issue and should be dealt with accordingly. The players found guilty of fixing should not be allowed to represent Pakistan again,” she stated.

Pakistan cricket suffered huge a blow in 2010 when then Test skipper Salman Butt, pacers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were convicted for spot-fixing during the tour of England.

Another spot-fixing controversy involving Sharjeel Khan, Khalid Latif, Shahzaib Khan and paceman Mohammad Irfan has surfaced in the recently-held Pakistan Super League (PSL).

Back in 2000, several top Pakistan cricketers were fined and banned for fixing. Former Pakistan skipper Salim Malik and pacer Ata-ur-Rehman were banned for life for their involvement in match-fixing. Several other prominent players were fined.

Sana praised Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq for his role in building the image of Pakistan team in the wake of 2010 spot-fixing scandal.

“Misbah played a great role in removing the stigma of spot-fixing from Pakistan cricket after taking over the captaincy,” she said.

Expressing her satisfaction that no fixing activity occurred in women’s cricket, Sana said “Wearing the Pakistan cap has always been a pride”.

Meanwhile, she said the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was holding the camp to improve the skills of women cricketers.

Former Pakistan Test fast bowler Kabir Khan is supervising the camp with the help from assistant coaches.

Published in Dawn, March 21st, 2017