Seek changes in ball-tampering laws, Mani to PCB

The former International Cricket Council Chairman Ehsan Mani has urged the PCB to push for new laws to curb ball-tampering instead of seeking stricter punishment for South African Faf du Plessis as it cannot interfere in that case anymore.
"I don't think the Pakistan board can interfere in this matter now as the match referee has taken his decision according to the laws for ball tampering offences," Mani said.
"What happened is most unfortunate for the image and spirit of the game but the bottom line is Plessis has been punished for his offence and the PCB can't do anything more in this matter," he said.

But Mani conceded that the ICC needed to review its existing regulations and laws for ball tampering.
"What the PCB should do is definitely try to win support of other like-minded boards and try to bring about changes in the ball tampering laws at the ICC board level," he said.
Mani said that ball-tampering remained a contentious issue and there was a need to debate it.

He said it was most unfortunate that Pakistani cricket fans were still being deprived of the opportunity to watch their players play at home against touring sides.
The former chief executive of the Pakistan board, Arif Ali Abbasi also felt that the attempt by the PCB to get the ICC to look into the ball-tampering issue including the fine imposed on Plessis would be of no use.

"The match referee has taken advantage of the existing laws for ball tampering what the PCB needs to do is straight away push for changes to the laws," he said.
"(But) when there is always so much uncertainty in our board and when appointments are made on political basis what do you expect that the ICC or other boards will respect us," he added.