The BIG Fix

So Australians were the biggest match fixers! Well, according to Mazhar Majeed the agent and former journalist in the hot seat of the bribery proceedings in a London court.

Well, it wouldn't be the first time Australian players have blotted their coffee book associating with dodgy sub-continental bookies, so if these allegations prove true, when will our blokes learn?

Of course coming from a Pakistani agent it sounds a little suss to start with... not implausible, just dubious for mine. Certainly affecting a game in "brackets" is less glaringly obvious than by other means; any batsman could declare they were "taking their time to get their eye in." And any bowler could claim, "I was bowling to a plan to draw a batsman into a false shot." So as long as no wager has been placed it all sounds a bit hollow; but if one has...

I would hope (call me naive), that in this age where the upper echelon of players CAN make a substantial living and so donn't need to 'chase the big bucks' fixing a game to earn a bit on the side with a bet. It has been touted that Pakistan players are more susceptible to this blight due to lower earnings and this is obviously an issue for the PCB, not me to sort out. More so because i don't see a lot of companies queuing up to get Pakistani cricketers endorsing their products- so there is no coin there for the players!

If this has happened, it is imperative that CA show they have ZERO tolerance and rip up players contracts and suspend them from every level of the game for LIFE!

With all and sundry speaking up about this in the media this morning- AB flatly denying its possibility, proof is now required from Majeed if he is to stand by his statement.

And THAT is what i think!

Any other country...

Over the last 24 hours since Australia "won" the Sydney test I have entertained many conversations about how unbelievable it was and so on. Eventually the conversation has lead to match fixing. I know with any implosion the subject rears it's ugly head but when the side concerned is Pakistan, and the game was lost by grassed sitters and poor field settings it becomes a little more ugly.
I love test cricket and this game was an awesome advertisement for the validity of it but something in the back of my mind sits uneasily and I throw it over to the gentlemen on this site to give me some councelling.
Am I being silly or is there a distinct possibility that the Pakistani's might have thrown this one?
I look forward to your replies.

A New Beginning

Thanks Stoph for the invite.

It's such a pity that sport is surrounded by politics and fanatacism. Already a dangerous mix, cricket becomes positioned to be run over by the politics and fantatacism train: rather than a contributor to its birth. Now the PCB has no cards left to trade with to enable test, or as likely, any cricket in Pakistan for a very long time.

The many local fans of Younis and others, in Karachi and Lahore, won't be watching blokes in white playing on a road any time soon. I hope the awful situation at least diminishes for the poor people of Pakistan. Perhaps then sport can be celebrated and enjoyed by so many that can't presently.

But on a more positive note........

How good is this series in South Africa going to be? Unbelievably freaking good! I think any focus on an ICC world test ranking is pointless because Aus and RSA are simply two equally matched, geat sides. I reckon Aus will get over them again before flying back though.

It's two-all now in a 6 test series with both teams having times of brilliance with the bat and ball. South Africa are playing the exact same 11 as they did in Aus; while Aus played three blokes for their first time. Aus selectors will be patting themselves on the back smugly. It did look like a different Australia in the middle of the bullring over the first few days of the test match.......and the last one. Well done boys, well done.

Bring on the next test!

Leftriteout

next stop, isolation!

Scorecard:
Fundamentalist -1
Pakistan people/players/cricket/supporters/world cricket -0

Sadly, and for the sake of player security, the people of Pakistan must be denied the world cup.

The government will be deemed remiss in their duty of care to these players that stepped up to fill a vacated schedule.

The lunatic element of this society that is incapable of ANY tolerance to difference will get what they want through these actions... less outside contact.

When wholesale change is made to the mindset of the people within this region, so that no one at any level of society will tolerate these hateful attitudes and actions, acceptance will come from the rest of the global community.

I'm not holding my breath!

stoph verismo
downthewicket