Agent regulation is a good step forward
The 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 , 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 sting, where it was claimed he arranged for Asif and Amir to bowl deliberate no-balls during at Lord's. Majeed was later released on bail without charge, while Asif, Amir and Butt have been provisionally suspended by the (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.
