The state of cricket in Pakistan is still a complete mess. On one side you have Mohammed Asif cancelling his appeal against his spot-fixing suspension, virtually an admission of guilt. On the other, Salman Butt and Mohammed Aamer (Amir) are still protesting their innocence in the matter, although Aamer has been reported as saying he was influenced by peer pressure.
Add to that the debacle of cricket administration in the country - trying to cover their own arses by throwing out random and baseless accusations about other countries fixing matches whilst remaining in complete denial about the state of the cancer in their own system. Yesterday's flee to safety of Zulqarnain Haider from the touring party in Dubai after allegedly receiving death threats because he defied orders to throw matches simply shows it is just more of the same. Access to players obviously isn't being blocked, and there must be others still in the squad who continue to insult their country and the world of cricket by chasing a quick buck rather than play to the best of their collective ability for the glory of their nation.
The first stage of overcoming an addiction such as alcoholism or problem gambling is first admitting there is problem. Very few people in the Pakistan cricket system are prepared to admit that, and those who do seem to be kicked out. Denial will just ensure it continues until the rest of the cricketing world want no part in playing against the once-proud cricketing nation of Pakistan.
Ban them, ban them now and for a long, long time. No other message will get through.
UPDATE ---
And it gets worse. Read this story about a Pakistan domestic match, featuring Haider again and Salman Butt. Blind Freddy could spot a fix with that scoreline, yet the PCB couldn't???
TestMatchSofa's Legside Lizzy has written an excellent piece on the fate of Zulqarnain Haider. He has major issues to deal with now....
Add to that the debacle of cricket administration in the country - trying to cover their own arses by throwing out random and baseless accusations about other countries fixing matches whilst remaining in complete denial about the state of the cancer in their own system. Yesterday's flee to safety of Zulqarnain Haider from the touring party in Dubai after allegedly receiving death threats because he defied orders to throw matches simply shows it is just more of the same. Access to players obviously isn't being blocked, and there must be others still in the squad who continue to insult their country and the world of cricket by chasing a quick buck rather than play to the best of their collective ability for the glory of their nation.
The first stage of overcoming an addiction such as alcoholism or problem gambling is first admitting there is problem. Very few people in the Pakistan cricket system are prepared to admit that, and those who do seem to be kicked out. Denial will just ensure it continues until the rest of the cricketing world want no part in playing against the once-proud cricketing nation of Pakistan.
Ban them, ban them now and for a long, long time. No other message will get through.
UPDATE ---
And it gets worse. Read this story about a Pakistan domestic match, featuring Haider again and Salman Butt. Blind Freddy could spot a fix with that scoreline, yet the PCB couldn't???
TestMatchSofa's Legside Lizzy has written an excellent piece on the fate of Zulqarnain Haider. He has major issues to deal with now....
Well said, but it wont happen, is it jsut Pakistan or cricket in denial?
ReplyDeleteIt takes time to build a legal case but the ICC are still not being loud enough about what they are doing, at least as a deterrent to stop any more of it.
ReplyDelete