The ICC has launched an investigation into the third one-day international between England and Pakistan at The Oval after it received information from a newspaper before the game began alleging that bookies were aware of certain scoring patterns that occurred during the match.
The ICC stated that "a full investigation is warranted", confirming that the information it received in advance about certain scoring patterns during the game appeared to be correct. The information was passed on to the ICC by The Sun, which said it was based on details of calls between a person based in Dubai and a bookie in Delhi.
The ICC, however, clarified that it was premature to suggest anything untoward had occurred during Pakistan's 23-run victory on Friday.
"A source informed The Sun newspaper that a certain scoring pattern would emerge during certain stages of the match and, broadly speaking, that information appeared to be correct," Haroon Lorgat, the ICC chief executive, said.
"We therefore feel it is incumbent upon us to launch a full enquiry into this particular game, although it is worth pointing out at this stage that we are not stating as fact that anything untoward has occurred. Only in the fullness of the investigation can that be established."
This is happening far too frequently. For there AGAIN to be a cloud of suspicion hanging over the Pakistan cricket team just weeks after three players were suspended by the ICC suggests that this problem is endemic, and that it is going to keep on happening.
So we reckon that there is only one alternative remaining for the ICC to consider; to suspend Pakistan from all international cricket for at least twelve months. This suspension must include the ICC World Cup in early 2011. Until then, all matches involving Pakistan will arouse suspicion.
The Pakistan team is due to tour New Zealand at the end of this year. We don't want them here, even though that will affect the Black Caps' World Cup preparation. The financial hit that NZC will take if the Pakistan tour is cancelled will be less than if the tour proceeds, and no-one turns up to watch because "clean" matches cannot be guaranteed.
The operations of bookmakers and betting syndicates have become a blight on cricket, the game we love ahead of all other sports. That Pakistani players have been at the forefront of allegations of match-fixing and more recently spot-fixing in unquestionable. If cricket is to free itself from such allegations, the ICC must now take drastic and decisive action.
3 comments:
I agree the ICC needs to do something.
The Poms lost the game your post is about. The investigation should be about them.
Meanwhile you may not want to see Pakistan here this coming season but I do - there are some amazing cricketers from that country.
No doubt whatsoever about the talent aspect Tinman, which makes this so much more tragic. But do you REALLY want to go to a match where you walk away thinking "Was that for real?"?
As for the England match, it's not the result that is in dispute, it is aspects of the Paki batting "effort".
We have had a rule in our house for quite a few years. Never bet on the Pakastani's in Cricket and the Warriors in League. The first because you don't know the pre-ordained result and the second because of the unpredictability of the team.
While I am saddened that some really talented cricketers will miss out on touring for a while Pakistan needs to be banned for a while. Anything less is just cowardice in the face of a bully and make no mistake the PCB is a bully. If the ICC doesn't stand up to them they will keep laughing in the faces of us cricket lovers.
I for one am voting with my feet. This summer was going to be the occasion my 5 year old daughter was to be introduced to international cricket, this will now wait till she is 6. As Inventory said you can't trust the result to be fair so why shell out your money to watch it.
Maybe cricket fans should stand up for the game they love and say by non attendance that NZ Cricket can pay to have Pakistan here but we won't be covering that cost.
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