Agent regulation is a good step forward
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)'s announcement in the wake of the spot fixing scandal that they intend to create a register of agents, has to be welcomed.
The move has been prompted by the alleged involvement of agent Mazhar Majeed in the scandal engulfing Salman Butt, Mohammed Asif and Mohammed Amir, with the PCB stating that every player under its auspices will have to register their agent with the board for approval, or be ineligible to play.
Majeed, agent to Butt, was arrested following the News of the World sting, where it was claimed he arranged for Asif and Amir to bowl deliberate no-balls during last month's Test against England at Lord's. Majeed was later released on bail without charge, while Asif, Amir and Butt have been provisionally suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) pending the police investigation.
A lack of regulation around agents on the subcontinent means there has never been a way of keeping track on who is getting involved in the game. Anybody is able to claim that they represent a player. Indeed, anyone can approach a player with an offer of representation and the player has very little assistance in checking the credentials and credibility of that individual.
Hello, I'm Alison Mitchell, reporter and commentator for Five Live and Five Live Sports Extra. Cricket is my speciality, so that's why I'm blogging here. You'll get bits and bobs about both England's men and women, including from the men's winter tours.
