Pakistan cricket is facing one of the darkest days in its history with the match-fixing revelations involving several members of the Pakistan cricket team. While the allegations have not yet been proven, the evidence on hand suggests all is not well in the Pakistan camp.
Dawn.com’s sports desk will keep an eye on the developments as the day goes on.
We also invite our readers to debate the imbroglio, its implications and what the future holds for Pakistan cricket.
Latest from the world press on the Lord’s fixing scandal:
Several Pakistani players knew Mazhar majeed
The three balls that might taint Pakistan cricket forever
Lack of killer instinct in Pakistan’s attack
Lord’s fixing scandal on internet forums, Facebook, Twitter:
@umairjav: stuart broad must be bummed at finding out he’s actually not that great a batsman
@KamranAbbasi: In the middle of the flood crisis and Ramadan, what a way to behave. An utter humiliation for Pakistan cricket on and off the field.
@cpyala: Question for Aalim Online: Does the money donated by Pak cricketers for flood relief become haraam?
@karachikhatmal: in 99 you broke my heart. but i was 16, and i learnt to love you again. i fear i am too old to love you again. why #pakcricket?
The views expressed by the reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group.
In times like these when Pakistan is grappling with worst floods in its history, the cricketers of Pakistan have only inflicted more wounds on the common man who rever them with great trust. More than the nationality, its about the game of cricket getting tarnished which is not acceptable on any grounds. Its high time PCB and for that matter all other cricket boards of the world take decisive actions against whosover is found guilty. A weak reaction will only send out a wrong signal to youngsters waiting in lines with a dream to represent their country one fine day.
I hope there will be an ICC life ban rather than a PCB life ban. The officials in PCB are just as if not more corrupt than the cricketers. No wonder the teams performance has been so unpredictable and miserable. Shame to these guys.
When ever Pakistani cricket team go to England something fishy is with in ICC controlled cricket.PCB is the real culprit, in this case all the management of Pakistani cricket must be changed.Players are innocent.The scandle on the players is fake.Still one days and t 20s are to come, same Pakistani team is going to beat England,cheers
No news is good news these days.floods,brutal killings,lawlessness in karachi and now the icing on the cake-match fixing or spot betting(whatever you may call).It is apparent that the lust for money surpasses everything.Iam surprised at asif,he doesn’t seem to learn and a life ban looks likely.Somebody on BBC commented that Pakistan is drowning and their players are filling their pockets by cheating.I wönder with what face we will now ask for international assistance.
Calm down, nothing is proven yet.
What a shame, as every passing day Pakistan and our Pakistanis and our Cricketers manage to hit a new low never imagined before.
I am ashamed that all of the above call themselves Pakistanis as well…
I hold my head in shame. Maybe we should start looking if the Martians are responsible.
Shear waste of talented players like up coming bowler Aamir.
It is shame on whole of the Indian sub-Continent & not just on
Pakistan.But here Pakistan MUST take irrevocable strong action
action against players involved in this scam
Nothing is proven man so hold that thought.
Stop this denial business… accepting a problem is the first step towards
redemption
Didn’t you see Aamir’s no ball on first delivery of third over? This proves everything. You will be ashamed to know that this is just the tip of the iceberg and the reality is much worse
So sad, such wonderful talent like Amir should end like this.
nothing is proved yet buddy …. so plz .. hold ur wishes
Hangama hai kyon barpa thori si jo pi li hai
I do not understand why all this shor and tamasha. These are the gangs who are for last decade bringing shame for Pakistan and every time being called and selected again. They are not at fault. We have to look for those people who are putting them in the place. But believe me nothing happens to them. Even if they are convicted in UK and arrested and jailed for some time they will come back and proudly playing with the green shirt.
Not to shame on them. They are genious, well connected and knows their value
Shame on us
At least this time the players should be banned for life so that no one else in future can bring such a shame to the country.
sad day for cricket fans all over the world it is not less then a tregery shame on you guys
What a shame, I think world Cricket body should ban Pakistan/Pakistani players to play in any games outside of the country.
It is to be proved whether these allegations are real or fake but the two big no balls by amir and his overacting after the first one suggest that there is some truth in these allegations.Lack of strick actions against match fixing scandals and our lenient behaviour towards culprit are the reasons for repition of such events.In the past we have seen players in the ground after proven scandals of match fixing.This behaviour encourages other and the result is there.
If these allegation are proved then we will have to make an example by giving strict punishment to culprits.This is the only way to curb such evens in future.
Hang them. I have no words to say anything. Now its proved that the Sydney test which we lost due to Kamran Akmal was fixed by him. Hang them all.
Too painful to comment. Unfortunately I can’t dig a hole and hide from reality
It is a disaster for our immage which is already tarnished by our corrupt politicians. First we need to find out if the money given was really a bribe or was it a gift to admire the efforts by good players and/ or to help the flood victims. I hope that the allegations are false or result of some kind of misunderstanding. If the allegations are true, Pakistan need to make an example out of thes players and any one else directly or indirectly involved. We definitely will have to pay the prize, but we should start with clean sheet. Retain good clean players, train new ones, and train all of them in cricket and teach the moral values before exposing them to the world.
Azam Chowdhry
USA
If it is true, they should be punished as hard as one can.
They deserve to be punished if found guilty. I say, Jail them ALL. Make an example so that future players think twice before selling off the country. This is a shameful moment for the Pakistan.
If it is true – then it is indeed a case of sting operation by British tabloid to trap the players who went for the bait and revealing a complete disregard for ethics of the sport. It is tragic that a young and talented player like Amir was lured into the dark alley by senior players.
Unfortunate Pakistan’s representatives!
South Africa lived through the Hanse Cronje match fixing. Hopefully we will too…..but at what cost? Are we willing to penalize those who are involved in this? And as someone wrote earlier on this blog its not just the cricketers…..the entire nation has become corrupt !!! People openly pointed out that they do not trust Pakistanis. I am one who lives outside Pakistan, and believe the job of defending the name of Pakistan is getting difficult each day. The other day a friend of mine called me to as if I knew any organization who is honest enough to deliver the aid money to the right people….my reply was I honestly do not know.
Last week the ICC was talking of sending a World XI to play a match in Pakistan and in doing so try and revive international cricket in Pakistan which has been absent for quite some time now. I can only imagine if this would happen now in the light of this ongoing incident !!!
We as a nation are just becoming incompetent when it comes to selecting people who represent us in any aspect on the world stage. I believe that people who are handed the duty of doing so are equally incompetent of making the right choices.
I hope and pray that Allah guides us to emerge through these difficult times which are haunting us and have circled us from all sides in the best possible way and bring an end to our miseries as soon as possible (ameen).
To all:e
This is conspiracy to get rid of our shining stars like Amir and Asif by the grace of God every thing will be alright.Players should not banned the conspirators should be banned and punished.We should support our team 100 percent and pray for an excellent future of cricket,Selection should be on merit only.Be positive and pray.
I really feel sad for your comments and understand your sentiments, since leaving n a foreign country and to get all the taunts.
For Pakistan cricket team it is not surprising to be accused of corruption. Their dismal record is a reflection of their attitude towards the game. It appears they have become too hard skinned to be bothered about the disgraceful exhibition they have time and again come up up with. We remember the great team of the yesteryears represented by Kardar and his colleagues.
Dreadfully insulting situations need drastic solutions: Disband all the cricket institutions in the country that have done so much harm to the dignity of the nation and encourage other sporting activities.
These are difficult times for Pakistan as a whole, so stick with your players. As far as controversy is concerned, let it get investigated then you people comment, right now it is just a scandal and I am sure there is a big conspiracy theory behind it either to tarnish the image of pakistan (as usual) or trying to put emerging players out of game like Amir (as it always happened with Wasim and Waqar in 90s). I feel it is a big conspiracy.
I totally agree with you sir
I think the players who are clean and resist match fixing are kept out of the team although they perform well. This is obvious that the chain goes a long way. I am pretty sure that the management and selectors get a fair share of all this rubbish.
After allegations, the career of Rashid Latif was destroyed but all those alleged enjoyed a long career with so many opportunities to cash their presence. This should be investigated that why Kamran Akmal was included when he was suspected of dropping catches deliberately in Australia?
There should be a thorough inquiry otherwise ICC will ban our cricket and this will be a disaster.
Very well said .U R 10000 % right I am with U on this .
Totally agree with you…the corruption is right from the top and affects selection. I sincerely believe ICC itself is involved in supporting match fixing.
you are right and thats why younis khan was kept out and there was nothing wrong with zulkarnain haider either, he was probably just an honest player.Unbelievable. i personally think all their accounts should be siezed and should do some prison time
Well well well… The whole system is corrupt and cricketers are no exception. But unfortunately cricket is more visible to the outside world so the impact would be bigger…… I am ashamed that all Pakistanis are being labelled as cheats because of the BUTTS & Z..aris. Some BUTT busting needs to be done NOW. We must also keep in mind that where Pakistan is concerned the west wastes no time to label the nation as cheats… whereas when S. Broad is seen openly tampering the ball he is not even reprimanded. Havenots are always labelled as thieves whereas the ones who steal billions rule countries. It is time that we stand up all together to salvage some pride for Pakistan…. Time for a bloody revolution…
We are morally corrupt people disguised in the veil of religion. We just like to point out fingers at others of not following the religion. We are hypocrites. From Zardari and Sharifs, to the brutal burning of the Christians last year, to the murderous killing of innocents in Sialkot, the Hudood ordinance, Asif being caught in UAE for drugs, and now they being caught again for match fixing. Shame on us! We are all corrupt and hypocrites. We just like to blame others. Shame!
I Agree..
Thanks Faraz for saying out loud what i wanted to! now i have fewer words to type.
well, atleast somebody had the guts to admit this.
Mr Mazher also works part time at one of the uk islamic channel
Awesome I can see that anger in you .That is why I am not writing as yet ,beacuse I will tear & rip them apart from Islamabad to Karachi.U R right Faraz
Media has named 4 players out of seven and other 2 are Shoaib Malik and Shafqat Rana (Assistant Manager). The group is headed by Shoaib Malik