By: Aslam Chandio from Islamabad, Pakistan
In a scandal that could rock the roots of Pakistan women’s cricket, five players from the Multan region have been banned for six months from playing any form of cricket after false allegations of sexual harassment against the management of Multan Cricket Club.
Five women cricketers from the Multan region had complained of sexual harassment and misbehavior by their superiors and officials in June this year.
The inquiry committee that was set up by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to investigate the allegations of sexual harassment by five women cricketers against the management of Multan Cricket Club has recommended that all the five women cricketers should be banned from playing any form of cricket for six months with effect from October 23, 2013.
In a statement issued by the PCB on Friday, the PCB said, “The Multan District Cricket Association has also been censured and asked to keep a close watch on Multan Cricket Club and ensure that the clubs registered with them follow the regulations and disciplinary procedures of PCB.”
“Even after they served the ban, said the convener of the probe committee and manager Pakistan women’s cricket, Ayesha Ashaar, all five girls will be kept under probation for a period of one year after which the evaluation of their conduct will be made,” the PCB stated.
The issue was thoroughly investigated by a two-member inquiry committee, in front of which only three out of the five players – Seema Javed, Hina Ghafoor, Kiran Irshad – appeared, while the other two, Saba Ghafoor and Haleema Rafiq, remained absent despite being given an opportunity to present their cases before the tribunal.
“Those three players who appeared before the tribunal categorically denied having been sexually harassed or having seen such harassment taking place. All three were serving one penalty or ban or another for various offences and that was the focus of their complaint,” the PCB stated.
After thorough due process, in addition to banning the five players for bringing the game and the image of women’s cricket into disrepute, the PCB has issued a letter of censure to the Multan District Cricket Association to monitor the Multan Cricket Club’s activities closely and report to GM Domestic Operations PCB quarterly.
“It is strongly recommended that the district cricket association ensures that the club follows the regulations and disciplinary procedures of the PCB in letter and spirit to avoid such uncalled and unprofessional events from happening that tarnish the image of the game of cricket,” the PCB said.
This decision was made after the hearing conducted in Multan on June 11, 2013. Five women cricketers namely Seema Javed, Hina Ghafoor, Kiran Irshad, Saba Ghafoor and Haleema Rafiq were appeared on a satellite news channel programme on June 7, 2013 and had leveled allegations of sexual harassment against the management of Multan Cricket Club. As soon as the complaints were made by five women players of the Multan region on a television channel, the PCB had formed an inquiry committee to probe into the matter.
Aslam Chandio is an Islamabad based journalist. He tweets at @aslamchandio_