Promiscuity and Pakistan cricket

<div class="section1"><div align="left" style="position:relative; left: -2"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" align="left" border="0" width="29.1%"> <colgroup> <col width="100.0%" /> </colgroup> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:="" f3f3f3=""> <div class="Normal"><img src="/photo/1014678.cms" alt="/photo/1014678.cms" border="0" /></div> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:="" f3f3f3=""> <div class="Normal" style="" text-align:="" center=""><span style="" font-size:="" font-weight:="" bold="">Shahid Afridi was found guilty of misconduct</span></div> </td> </tr> </table></div> <div class="Normal">An Australian woman labelling rape charges against a Pakistani cricketer is not new.Their getting into sexual scandals has been the norm rather than an exception.<br /><br />In the 2003 World Cup four players were caught entertaining women ahead of their crucial build-up against Australia. In a fragrant breach of touring rules the women in question were the players’ wives and girlfriends. The Pakistanis felt it was better spending time with women rather than concentrating on the game. <br /><br />The Pakistan management was quick to issue a teary statement which said, "we are ashamed, disappointed, sad and broken-hearted after letting the nation down." The statement further added: "Wives and girlfriends were not allowed. But still a couple of them came, though they did not stay in the same hotels. We are not happy. A clear instruction has been violated."<br /><br />A much more serious scandal occurred five years ago when it was alleged Shahid Afridi, Hasan Raza and Atiq-uz-Zaman invited some women into their hotel room in Lahore before the Pakistani team left for Singapore to participate in a One-day series. <br /><br />The incident triggered an official probe by the Pakistan board in which the then coach Javed Miandad confirmed that the cricketers did not turn up for practice on the day of question. Rumours suggested Miandad had extracted a confession from Raza which was denied by the former coach. <br /><br />The probe found Shahid Afridi, Hasan Raza and Atiq-uz- Zaman guilty of misconduct and all of them were fined Rs 50,000 and suspended for one tournament.<br /><br />Afridi said after the verdict that he did not commit any mistake but accepted the verdict. He felt the punishment would have a "positive effect" on his career and make him more responsible. <br /><br />The International Cricket Council got into the act when its anti-corruption cell found apart from under performing in two one-day tournaments in Morocco and Kenya in 2002, two senior Pakistani players were regularly seen in the company of an unidentified Sri Lankan man at the Hilton Hotel. The Sri Lankan was involved in criminal activities. <br /><br />The "unidentified man" was no petty criminal. His activities were traced by the Interpol. The anti-corruption cell chief Condon informed the PCB chief Tauqir Zia in an official letter that the players used the room of the Sri Lankan man for "tryst with a Russian prostitute".<br /><br />The greatest controversy involved none other than the man himself- Imran Khan. He was alleged to have dated several women during his playing days but Imran bowled a bouncer when reports started filtering in that he had a "love child" from Sita White.<br /><br />Imran denied it for several years but the child looked tantalisingly like him. Finally a DNA test had to be taken where it was proved that the baby was in fact of Imran. <br /><br />He had later to pay for maintenance of the child and even invited her to Pakistan where he was living with his then wife Jemima. He asked Jemima to accept his "love child".<br /><br />It''s a sad commentary on Pakistan cricket. A team which is known for its brilliant individuals is often mired in controversies. The latest one has tarnished Pakistan''s image further.<br /><br />But it remains to be seen if this controversy would be hushed up by the authorities or an official probe be set up. Sleaze is a malaise Pakistan cricket can do without.</div> </div>