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.
It is well understood whenever pakistan loose series badly in the end the match fixing allegations come.
WHAT??? Allegations??? Come on Anwar – wake up and smell the roses (they’ve rotted in this case). These are not just allegations – facts are there for all to see. Please don’t even try to defend anyone on PCB / Team / Management side – I am officially done with Pakistan Cricket- FOR GOOD!
As all appears it is all fact there is no doubt. Absolutelt disgusting.
It is my opinion that these boys have played in the hands of some body who wants to destroy what ever is left in Pakistan cricket. I am thinking who will give huge amount of money for spot fixing just to bowl a no bowl. Some body could be from any lobby unfortunately Pakistan has only enemies every where (Home & away) who are bent upon destroying Pakistan image. Cricket had some silver lining in the dark clouds of hopelessness in Pakistan in last few weeks. Bowlers were responsible for this silver lining so they must be buried so there is no hope. Beefy was brutal in his comments as he had to settle his old grudge against Pakistan players
all players will be given a life ban lasting 6 months nothing else will happen . except more match fixing .
Looks like Pakistan cricket will face life ban in cricket
What a shame! cheats in one game (betting) hire cheats in other game (cricket) to cheat the common people and sport lovers.
What is even bad is that the sacred soil of lords pitch (where cricket was invented) was used for the purpose by characterless pakistani players. A national/international shame to our already damaged image as responsible global citizens.
My friends,
Nothing will happen. Believe me Ijaz Butt would be the most happy person in the PCB management today…. Indeed, many players will get banned (for short period of time) but this will be a great opportunity for Ijaz to get huge sum of amount (bribe) from the new guys who will replace the banned players…
I wish all the involved players are jailed in UK and it would be perfect outcome if Uk police contact inter-pole and they could comprehend Butt as well because in Pakistan Butt and involved players have got their Godfather to protect them…..
In conclusion, nothing will change unless whole system is changed in the country and every one in the country from President to a common person would be accountable to their act. When it will happen? I have no idea about it my friends
you are two hundred percent right.
I think that we should continue to cover these characterless brats. They are all fine Pakistani Muslims as such they cannot do it. This must be an American, British, and Hindu conspiracy, to defame Pakistani Muslims.
It is only a coincidence that Kamran Akmal misses four chances against one single batsman in Sydney. This video must be Western conspiracy to kill Pakistan cricket. If we cannot blame the others then let us justify this by saying everybody is corrupt in Pakistan so these young boys were not doing anything new! Or it must be Zardari’s fault. Before him, there was no corruption or match fixing! Boys will be boys.
Himayun Mirza, USA
Grow up please. Stop blaming west for your corruptions. Kamran Akmal, just as an example has lost catches which has cost us matches in a way even a kid can understand that it was deliberate (except you). It was Aqib Javed and Intikhab Alam after australia tour, and the parlimentarian guys who alleged Kamran is involved in fixing. Just look at the way,they sent back Zulqarnain (a real fighter) even the doctor said his finger required 3 days.
You are asking for money from West for flood disaster and they have collected 800 million for Pak. Still u blame west. Did the west kill those bros in Sialkot.
Grow up and accept they are the biggest enemies of themselves.
dude – don’t u get the sarcasm?
Dude!! Himayun is being sarcastic
Unfortunately we Pakistanis living outside Pakistan who continue to follow our cricket team so passionately are at a tremendous loss. Although we may not have lived in Pakistan for the last 20+ years, cricket is one thing that unites us. If these allegations prove to be true, nothing short of a life ban to each player is mandatory. And please move the PCB to Karachi. The head of the PCB and its board should be a democratically elected body of clean educated people. This is the only way out. God help us.
Texas, USA
Now we know why Aaqib Javed said that sensed something was wrong during the Sydney test match when Kamran Akmal dropped catches and missed runout.
Salman Butt removed Aamir from the bowling attack when Aamir took 6 wickets and did not give him chance to bowl at no. 9.
Now we know why Zulqarnain was sent home after his first test match. Salman and Kamran did not want him in the team and spoil the fin for them.
I am most disturbed by Aamir getting involved. Whole career in front of him and sold his Country. If he had waited a few years his rates would have gone higher.
Hanse Cronje was a man with a conscience that is why he admitted. Pakistani players do not have any, so they just think it is their right to sell their Country. The Politicians, the bureacrats and the players are all selling their Country as if it is their property.
Well I think you can’t blame amir for it….He just a teenager and the older players got heavy on him……if he is proven guilty that is….
This iss not new for Pakistani players. they are involved in all types of wrong doing since long. They fight with each other openly, they has scandal related with women, batting, drugs etc. But its sad to learn that even they proved guilty and thrown out, they are re-insisted quickly. Pak has one more thing to get defame.
Like you can never straighten’s a dog’s tail….
well that was expected becouse of three reason which are all interconnected.firstly,becouse of Ijaz Butt .This man and his friend Yawar saeed has done the real damage to team.Under Ijaz regieme Sri Lnakan team was attacked and i believe butt is the person to be blaimed for that.Younis and yousaf ‘s careers were destroyed becouse there were the only two players who probably stood up against Ijazz butt and Player like Shoaib malik is part of the team inspite of malik being called a termite by team coach,players and manager.
Seconly , it was expected becouse players like ijaz ahmed and waqar younis are with the team.These two players and many other’s were involved in match fixing and they were fined by justice qayyum.
Thirdly becouse you have only bad,corrupt, dark hearted and faced people in team and players of good character like Younis khan,yousaf and afridi are out of team becouse they are brave enough to speak out the truth.
And finally it was expected becouse our president is one of the most corrupt person in the world.He appointed IjZZ BUTT becouse he is brother in Law of Chaudry Mukhtar(defence minister).Zardari was requested again and again to get rid of Ijaz butt but Zardari ignored this issue completely.
Spot on!!!!!
players of good character???
Afridi …last time i checked he was found eating cricket ball in an international match while acting as pak capitan….
I am glad to hear just moments ago that some Pakistani players have been taken into custody by Scotland Yard. When we lose faith in our system of justice, let us hope truth will come to light somehow, somewhere by the world renowned Police. Instead of pointing fingers at who is exposing whom and who is not being exposed, we must be thankful to those who bring these evil doers to some kind of justice. I hate to see and hear on Samaa TV the London based correspondent blaming the foreign media for not doing much to expose English Cricketers, who lost early wickets in 1st Innings. We must be grateful to them for the hard work they put in to bring back respect to the game we all cherish. Also the defense being put up by Retired Cricketers Iqbal Qasim and others, to wait and not condemn these criminals is despicable. What else do they need to come out of their old ways of “Matti Pau”.
These players who has involved in this case, should be publically punished. They have broken the hearts of innocent people of Pakistan who already desperate from Politics, Flood, Price hiking and now cricket.
Salman Butts body language tells the entire story! This explains the form and behavior over the last year. Thanks guys for destroying any izzat we had left.
If proved then I just want to see all of them(who are involved) banned for life.
Ashamed to be a Pakistani. Why can’t our people act like people from other countries? Why does this match-fixing stuff happen with our players only?Why is our image so tarnished and why does it keep getting worse? Why Why Why? I want answers. I’m ashamed
I guess it’s too much to expect anything more from our cricketers . The endemic corruption has made our country rotten to the core, and no single person or entity exists with enough power or mandate to cleanse it. As a Pakistani, this makes me very sad…
The power of media once again trumps common sense. The “news paper” involved in “breaking” the story is not worth the paper it is
printed on. It is owened by R Murdoch’s News Corporation known for its prejudicial yellow journalism. The fact that this so called
paper has been successfully sued by Beckham, Rooney among others for libel, and its latest editor came from the “toilet paper” rag
New York Post after his predecessor resigned in 1997after being disgraced due to improper and criminal behavior behooves all and
sundry clamouring for blood to show some restraint. People like Kamran Abbasi should be more responsible in their comments. The
team officials should wait until facts become clear. And un-people like Sarfaz Nawaz should be simply ignored. Guilty unless
proven otherwise is utter nonsense. A shady news paper, a sleezy editor, a slime bag of a character with a pile of money and
allegations against Pakistani cricketers does not even meet the legal standard of preponderance of evidence or less. So people
don’t take out your frustrations on the young Pakistani players, find another venue. Give them a chance to tell their side of the “story
befor condemning them. Lastly please read something about the seedy history of the so called news paper that operates
like a pariah and publishes utter sensational rubbish to make a buck.
Your comments have some validity, but its not between newspaper and Pakistan team now, the investigation has been handed over to Scottland Yard, therefore we expect truth and investagors will not hesitate to expose newspaper’s malicious claims, Another windfall for our cricketers, in case they are innocent?
I am an Indian. It is true that I love my country. But because I am Punjabi too. It is for me subsicuent to see Pakistan winning Cricket matches against England an dother countries. I felt so sad, how they threw the last Test match without any fight. Now as der Match fixing comes to the Light, I am totaly demoralized.
Its shameful, that so talented Players sell demselves for money.
If these allegations are proven true, all the involved must be banned forever, no matter how good they are. The team is losing with them already, a few more defeats will not matter much. I would prefer the shame of losing match after match instead of this humiliation of entire nation. BAN TYHEM 4EVER.
I am in favor of these cricketers to be jailed in UK and learned a lesson for their wrong doings.
I am feeling so down and embrassed to be called Pakistani.
Regards,
Why everyone is shocked to hear the news now? from miandad’s sixer in sharjah to the current test, it was ON !!!
For us fools, oh we just love cricket, well wake up, it’s not 70s anymore. Those golden days are gone. What a shame, what a pity. What a bummer !!!
You are right Bilal. I am shocked to see that people are shocked. Where they have been living, at Mars perhaps.
This is the sudden death of Pakistan cricket. What would be the fate of upcoming ODI series? Perhaps a brand new team should be fielded.
It’s unfortunate the Pakistani players are involved with lowering the spirit of the game, arnt they just shamful. How are they expected to face the Pakistani fans in the UK and back home..
While every other nation has taken strong measure against corruption,PCB has always indulged in cover ups,iust look back at number of players sentenced and what happened to them subsequently .seriously doubt any action will be taken this time ?
Rot starts at the top – it goes beyond cricket just look around. We have only 2 choices fix it or be doomed.
Calm down. Nothing is proven yet