18 Years Later......

[Saj]

There have been some dark days in Pakistan cricket over the years and 18 years ago this incident must have ranked amongst the darkest.

This is what Tony Cozier wrote in the Independent :-

PAKISTAN'S cricket tour of the West Indies has been thrown into jeopardy after the arrest of four players, including the captain Wasim Akram and vice-captain Waqar Younis, on drugs charges in Grenada.

Akram, Waqar, Aqib Javed and Mushtaq Ahmed, along with two female tourists and a local man, were arrested on the beach at the team's hotel on Thursday night. They were charged with 'being in possession of a controlled drug'. Police said tests would determine the the drug, but it was thought to be marijuana.

They were released on bail and the police commissioner, Nestor Ogilvy, was unable to say when the case would be heard.

Derek Knight, a Queen's Counsel retained by the West Indies Cricket Board of Control to act for the Pakistanis, said police evidence was flimsy and his clients had no case to answer.

Representations were reportedly being made to Mr Ogilvy, the Prime Minister Nicholas Brathwaite and the director of public prosecutions to have the matter resolved speedily.

Khalid Mahmood, the Pakistan team manager, said: 'These charges are baseless. The players are very upset and in a state of shock. At the moment they are not in any state of mind to play cricket tomorrow and at this stage I don't think the tour can go on. I have been in touch with the Pakistan Board and we will go home if this is not sorted out. I'm absolutely certain the boys are innocent.'

Witnesses said the arrest was made by an off-duty policeman jogging on the beach. It appears no drugs were found on the players or anyone in their company but the substances were close by.

The Pakistan team arrived in Grenada a few hours before the incident to play a three-day match against the West Indies Under-23 XI. The first Test of a three-match series gets under way in Port of Spain on Thursday.

The island has recently increased drug penalties and the players could face fines of up to East Caribbean dollars 250,000 (USdollars 92,500).

The Test and County Cricket Board has a strongly worded clause in its code dealing with the use of drugs and may take action against the three Pakistanis under contract to county teams - Akram of Lancashire, Waqar of Surrey and Mushtaq of Somerset.

[yamibone]

i never knew about this.. thought waqar and wasim were always saints.. had no idea they delved into drugs even if its only maruijana its still haram..

[Saj]

Originally Posted by yamibone i never knew about this.. thought waqar and wasim were always saints.. had no idea they delved into drugs even if its only maruijana its still haram..

The whole story was a bit sketchy if I remember correctly.

The players always denied the story and no drugs were actually found on them, although they were found near them on the beach.

Some said that it was made up to unsettle the Pak team, others said that the players got away with it just because they were high profile cricketers.

[Eagle_Eye]

PJ Mir was on the same tour as correspondent of TV Asia... fore runner of Zee TV in UK. Whenever he accompanies Pak team to West Indies... scandal is always around the corner.

[Faizan Lakhani]

Originally Posted by Saj The whole story was a bit sketchy if I remember correctly. The players always denied the story and no drugs were actually found on them, although they were found near them on the beach. Some said that it was made up to unsettle the Pak team, others said that the players got away with it just because they were high profile cricketers.

One would always deny of any wrong doing, Salman, Aamir and Asif are still denying any involvement in spot fixing, Asif has always denied any involvement in dope scandal, Shoaib Akhtar also denied allegations of breaching code of conduct.

I think that although drugs were not found from players, but according to media reports, they were tested positive for using cannabis.

Thanks God that we don't have Mohammad Asif with us on this tour, warna hotel pur hee chapha parta

[zaid65]

Smoking Marijuana is not a big deal especially in western culture. More than half of the Carribian population smokes weeds ( rest of them drink alcohol). Smoking marijuana among the Pakistani cricketers are nothing new as well ( don't want to give too much details).

Marijuana still better drug than drinking alcohol, except you act stupid and goofy, do our cricketers need this drug?

[Legendary_Sage]

Saj bhai, memories of golden days of pakistan cricket.
I dont care what cricketers do in their personal life as long as they dont sell pakistan name and carry the legacy of pakistan cricket traditions.
Sadly the younger crop of cricketers are mediocre at best when compared to players of 90's in terms of talent and also are far more in to controversies, match fixing etc

[zaid65]

I think that although drugs were not found from players, but according to media reports, they were tested positive for using cannabis.

Marijuana remain in your system for 30 days, if players were tested positive does not mean, they were using at the time of arrest. They could have used it in their own country or some place where they were not under the limits of any law.

[Saj]

Of course Mushy is a reformed character these days.

Earlier in his career he was what one could term "a rebel" and certainly different to what he is nowadays

[Legendary_Sage]

Originally Posted by Saj Of course Mushy is a reformed character these days. Earlier in his career he was what one could term "a rebel" and certainly different to what he is nowadays

Age does take toll on many.

But some never change.

[Zaid23]

everyone in 90's team fixed matches...dont know y its called the golden period...too many doubtful matches....wheneevr im watchin a match from 90 i see it with doubts in mind...later the judge said he was leniant on certain players....so all were as guility as amir, asif and butt

[Poison]

Originally Posted by zaid65 More than half of the Carribian population smokes weeds ( rest of them drink alcohol). Smoking marijuana among the Pakistani cricketers are nothing new as well ( don't want to give too much details).

Any evidence at all or just throwing facts of your head? Or more probably, making them up because you 'have some inside information from close in the team'.

[AZ]

mountain out of a molehill, IMO.

arrests and bail, what rubbish.

[Crazy_K]

Hopefully if I meet Wasim one day, we can talk left-arm swing bowling over a spliff or two

[the SHA]

Wow the memories. Pure scandal that was. Just a matter of months after the ball-tampering fiasco in England.

I still considered the 'incidents' with Mohammad Akram & Saqlain in South Africa more of an eye opener though. Black eyes and neck braces...

[Cracket]

Reading about this the first time..Wow.

[Dr Khan]

Only if we had given exemplary punishments to any wrong doings 18 or 20 years ago, things would have been much better today

[momin97]

never knew that

[Faizan Lakhani]

Originally Posted by Dr Khan Only if we had given exemplary punishments to any wrong doings 18 or 20 years ago, things would have been much better today

agreed.
and then they were let off with nominal fines by justice qayyum in match fixing inquiry...
and judge sahib was courageous but simultaneously shameless enough to publicly say that he was lenient with Wasim Akram because he was his favorite bowler.

some sources say that former chairman Tauqir Zia had also requested the judge sahib to show some sympathies for Wasim Akram.

[NO 1 AFRIDI FAN]

Originally Posted by yamibone i never knew about this.. had no idea they delved into drugs even if its only maruijana its still haram..

Exactly, I didnt know about this aswell. Probably the first time I am reading about this.

[zains_rulez]

Cant they live simple life ?? Haraam kaam kerna zaroore hai

[Saj]

Originally Posted by Dr Khan Only if we had given exemplary punishments to any wrong doings 18 or 20 years ago, things would have been much better today

Well thats an interesting point.

Over the years leniency has been shown to a number of players by the Board and generally that leniency has come back to haunt them.

[Inswinging Yorker]

Originally Posted by zaid65 Smoking Marijuana is not a big deal especially in western culture. More than half of the Carribian population smokes weeds ( rest of them drink alcohol). Smoking marijuana among the Pakistani cricketers are nothing new as well ( don't want to give too much details). Marijuana still better drug than drinking alcohol, except you act stupid and goofy, do our cricketers need this drug?

Man that is total bull..chit you are talking. where did you get your info? more than half of the caribbean smoke weed?

Have you ever been to the caribbean? Please do not smear the character of my people with falsehood.

[Afridi_Fan]

Wow, 18 years passed away so quickly. I still remember this incident.

[AZ]

Originally Posted by Inswinging Yorker Man that is total bull..chit you are talking. where did you get your info? more than half of the caribbean smoke weed? Have you ever been to the caribbean? Please do not smear the character of my people with falsehood.

his stats may be a bit OTT, but it is a very commonly consumed substance there, that's not untrue.

[bobwoolmersarmy]

Originally Posted by Inswinging Yorker Man that is total bull..chit you are talking. where did you get your info? more than half of the caribbean smoke weed? Have you ever been to the caribbean? Please do not smear the character of my people with falsehood.

Where in the caribbean you from ?

[bobwoolmersarmy]

Originally Posted by Crazy_K Hopefully if I meet Wasim one day, we can talk left-arm swing bowling over a spliff or two

LOL Ive met wasim in his days when he used to drive round birmngham by day in a convertble porsche and hit the clubs at night LOL so much not to tell

[bobwoolmersarmy]

Originally Posted by AZ his stats may be a bit OTT, but it is a very commonly consumed substance there, that's not untrue.

Helps batting concentration ......'hint hint PCB while your there'

[Amjid Javed]

That tour was billed as the best two test sides playing against each other. Instead we got our arses handed to us!

[Inswinging Yorker]

Originally Posted by AZ his stats may be a bit OTT, but it is a very commonly consumed substance there, that's not untrue.

saying weed is common there is no problem, but saying that half the population use weed is b/s.

If I were to say that more than half of Pakistan's population were islamic terrorists wouldnt you feel offended?...though millitants are common there , I cannot make such a baseless false accusation.
do you get my point?

[AZ]

That's why I said his stats are OTT.

[Redflair07]

Hilarious incident. To put this on a par with spot-fixing or anything like that is ridiculous. A bit of ganja does much less harm than most other substances.