Former Pak cricketers ask ICC to ban Kohli

Former Pakistan cricketers and an ex-Pakistan Cricket Board chairman on Tuesday demanded of the International Cricket Council (ICC) to ban Indian skipper Virat Kohli for ball-tampering.

Former Test leg-spinner Abdul Qadir said Kohli should be banned for ball-tampering after clear proofs of the offence in a footage provided by a South African photographer. "He should also be fined," he said while talking to a private news channel.

Qadir said if the ICC doesn't take any action against him (Kohli), then all the member cricket boards should pressurise it to take action against him. "The ICC should ensure that the rules are same for everybody," he insisted.

He asked the members boards to send letters or email to the ICC to look into the matter. "When it comes to ban a Pakistani player on bowling action or other things, the ICC steps in promptly and puts a ban. But in case of an Indian player it backs out," argued Qadir.

Former Test cricketer and chief selector Haroon Rasheed also noted with concern that while South African skipper Faf du Plessis was reported by the umpires, in Kohli's case the authorities were keeping mum.

Former PCB chairman Khalid Mahmood stated that whenever any Indian player is found involved in some wrongdoing, the ICC behaves differently. "We don't see application of the same rules for India. The ICC always treats India differently. Such an attitude is harmful for the game of cricket," he insisted.

He said not only the Indian skipper but the match referee and field umpire should also be banned over the fact that such an incident went unnoticed.

Copyright: Dawn, Pakistan/ Asia News Network