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Pakistan cricket is destroyed
By Tabrez Janjua for Stani Army in Pakistan Cricket
185 ViewsThe News of the World Newspaper is reporting that the Pakistan team has been involved in match fixing in the final Test at Lord’s. The paper’s undercover reporter Mazher Mahmood, set up the sting after tracking down a match fixer by the name of Mazhar Majeed. Majeed agreed that he would arrange for the Pakistan bowlers, Mohammed Asif and Mohammed Amir, to bowl no-balls at exactly the agreed point in the match in exchange for £150,000. This form of match fixing is know as spot fixing, whereby bets are placed on certain aspects of a game rather than the result.
In footage which will send a shudder through Pakistan fans, Mazhar Majeed is seen telling the reporter exactly at which point Amir and Asif will bowl no-balls in the Lord’s Test. Majeed tells the reporter that it will be the first ball of the third over and the last ball of the tenth, bowled by Amir and Asif respectively. Shockingly, this is exactly what happens and in the case of Amir, he no-balls half a foot over the crease. If it is proved that the video was filmed before the event then the evidence I’m afraid looks pretty damning. Majeed’s other promises to the reporter that turned out to be correct were another no-ball from Amir and a maiden over batted out by captain Salman Butt.
Crooked Majeed, went on to name Captain Salman Butt and wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal as two other players he has on side. He bragged that he has links with Indian bookies, manages ten of the Pakstani players and works “very closely with the PCB” who he has been involved with for around seven years. He is also pictured posing for the camera with the News of the World reporter and none other than the Pakistan captain Salman Butt himself.
In more shocking footage, Majeed is filmed showing Wahab Riaz and Umar Amin the inside pocket of his jacket where he had stuffed £10,000 earlier paid to him by the undercover reporter. Majeed then hands over the jacket with the money inside to Wahab Riaz who casually slips it on.
And it may not be just the Test captain Butt who knows about what is going on. It does seem that ODI captain Shahid Afridi is also reluctantly in the know, though maybe not directly involved, as Majeed also promised that two of the upcoming ODIs will be thrown. When referring to Afridi he said: “A lot of the boys want to f*** up Afridi because he’s trying to f*** up things for them”. The reason Majeed gave for not fixing entire Test matches was “because we’re trying to win this game (the Oval Test) and the Lord’s game. Because we want Salman Butt as captain”. When pressed whether Butt was on-side, Majeed said: “Of course, of course”.
Majeed claimed that not may of the players are actually there to represent their country or for the love of the game: “You’ll find there’s only a few players who are genuine and who are actually here for the love of the game and there’s not many believe me. A lot of them are just looking for money, women and food”.
Pakistan fans the world over will be devastated and feeling a sense of betrayal and anger right now. If the allegations are proved, I’d be happy to see every one of the players, backroom staff and/or administrators connected banned for life from all cricket with maybe the exception of Amir. It would be heartbreaking if it is proved that young Amir was knowingly involved and on his own accord. A prodigious talent who has taken international cricket by storm, and recently made the shortlist for ICC’s Emerging Player of the Year, would have wasted such a promising career and disgraced himself, his family and his nation.
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August 29th, 2010 at 9:47 am
Pakistan cricket is destroyed…
I found your entry interesting do I’ve added a Trackback to it on my weblog
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August 29th, 2010 at 11:19 am
Pakistanis image is destroying due to few corrupt people…..
August 29th, 2010 at 11:20 am
really shocking footage for Pakistanis…We dont expect this type of act from our players….
August 29th, 2010 at 11:43 am
I was against Butt as captain from the start and this has proven right, his captaincy was not technically great but to top this off with spot fixing is really a shame on us individually and as a NATION. We already had so many problems in our country and then these jokers are given free hand to play around and make illegal money and bring shame on us is really cruel.
About time we should get rid of both Butts (Ijaz and Salman for life), Yawar Saeed, Kamran Akmal, Asif, Wahab Riaz and Aamir. Our coaching staff that includes Ijaz and Waqar should also be sacked because of their past and may be involvement in the current scams.
Give the leadership back to Younis Khan, we need a person with integrity and a person who can lead with honesty and love for the nation and stop these disgraceful people to represent Pakistan ever again.
@Stani, the statement of of Majeed about onedayers is very clear that afridi is not part of it, other members of the team are with him as they want to f*** afridi because he was not doing things for them. So its quite clear afridi is not part of the matches that he was trying to fix. Also the onedayer of asia cup against sirilanka which Majeed claimed to had it fixed, if you remember that match afridi was the only one who batted and tried to win the game for the team with his century and even when he got out, pakistan was in a winning position but then they went on to loose that game, remember razzaq taking singles and exposing tailenders to Malinga in his last over …. shows the real culprits in the team. I guess things are getting clearer and clearer on why Afridi left the team, as he had the mates who were trying to f*** him and he was unable to control them because they were playing for money, not for the nation.
August 29th, 2010 at 11:46 am
Read the following links for details:
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/924349/Cricket-in-the-dock-as-we-expose-betting-scandal-England-Pakistan-Test.html
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/924695/Mr-Big-stuffed-the-10k-in-his-jacket-then-went-to-meet-players.html
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/924793/We-made-830k-when-Pakistan-collapsed-in-the-Aussie-match.html
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/924391/The-three-balls-that-will-shake-world-of-cricket.html
August 29th, 2010 at 11:49 am
We have to accept that this in their nature. A self-centred attitude that has loyality to none, not even themselves.
At least we now know why Afridi left. He left out of prinicple.
Life bans for all please.
August 29th, 2010 at 12:05 pm
What a shock and disgrace for the game and the Pakistan team.
How very sad that these individuals decided … that they could ultimately control the destiny of games and the joy or sadness of millions of cricketing fans. These criminals have robbed spectators of their hard earned money and time (and the careers of those players who had nothing to do with it). It makes you sick to think about the countless times that Pakistani fans have stood by their team whilst it seemed like the sporting world was out to get them and this is the reward they get?!
Part of me agrees with Stani Army to impose a life-long ban on the team but the other part of me feels the pain of the fans who will be punished the most if that were to happen, for I know the meaning of cricket to the nation of Pakistan. Cricket single-handedly has been a saviour of sort, an escape for a country that seems dysfunctional to say the least, a country that makes headlines for all the wrong reasons, cricket seemed to be their way of contributing good, getting a nation together were governments failed miserably. My heart felt condolences go out to those fans.
@Stani Army, can we have a poll to see how many of your bloggers would like to see a full life-long ban?
August 29th, 2010 at 1:12 pm
I’m wretched Stani.
I feel actually numbed and it’s still sinking in.
Just tell me why it is Pakistan who so often gets itself in this kind of trouble. Will they never learn?
And do you think we’ll never see any of them playing again? Even Aamir?
August 29th, 2010 at 3:31 pm
I am still hoping that the video will be proved to date from after the match and make it all a load of crap, but I know I’m in denial. I really am heartbroken about Amir particularly. He has such a future ahead of him – why, why, why?
On top of that, I think what Sunny has said on her blog about the Pakistani supporters not deserving this is right. It sucks. It really does.
August 29th, 2010 at 4:08 pm
**VOTE**
Poll is up (top right) so please cast your vote guys. You can click more than one player option.
August 29th, 2010 at 4:34 pm
@Socks –
I’m afraid our cricket has always been tarnished by match fixing allegations. Wasim, a regular contributor here, had suspicions of the Tests in Australia. If what Mr Majeed is saying is correct, match fixing took place on that tour also. Never has the evidence been so compelling as it has in this case though.
August 29th, 2010 at 4:35 pm
@Asim –
Yes I feel saddened and embarrass also. I’ve been a critic of Ramiz’s commentary but today I felt for him as he had to show his face and represent Pakistan cricket.
I will be even more shocked, if it is possible, if Waqar is involved. If he is, it will be disgrace on him as people will begin to look back at his whole career and question it.
What have you made of Yawar Saeed’s statements though? He seemed very open and ready to assist the police. Do you think he was involved?
Yes, if I can be clearer in regards to Afridi, I meant he probably knows what is going on but is not involved himself in the actual fixing.
You could be right. I intend to examine the Afridi, Yousuf and Younis angle tomorrow.
August 29th, 2010 at 4:36 pm
@Staright Talker –
Yes, look what is happening with the floods in Pakistan but this lot are after “money, women and food”.
Would you even ban young Amir for life? Hopefully when the poll results become more significant, we’ll be able to discuss this further in light of the results when I will post on the subject. The subject is raw right now but we may have to punish Amir differently to the other players.
August 29th, 2010 at 4:37 pm
@Ashton –
Poll is up as you requested.
It’s a mixture of feelings; sadness, embarrassment, frustration and anger. You almost feel like giving up supporting them. Cricket was the escape for Pakistan’s people but it was used by their players for their self interests and always has been.
August 29th, 2010 at 4:38 pm
@sunny –
If there’s no proper deterrent Sunny, then they will keep doing it. It is why one part of me feels Amir needs to be banned for life, but another part is saying no because he was young and impressionable.
August 29th, 2010 at 4:39 pm
@Sid –
That’s exactly what I was thinking but it wouldn’t have been possible. If the video was after the match then the reporter would have known that the scenarios Majeed is alluding to have already occurred. The other option then is that both the reporter and Majeed were in on it and were involved in a role play. Yet even this would not have been possible because only Majeed was arrested by the police and not the reporter. This shows that the News of the World has provided some kind of evidence to show the date of the footage and it was accepted to have been prior to the said events.
Yes, our fans don’t deserve this; no fans do but especially ours right now.
August 29th, 2010 at 5:52 pm
Surely there must be some way that this could be blamed on India? Or on the ICC? Or on the rest of the world?
Anyway, no need to worry. All the bans will be over-turned, the ICC and the PCB will cover-up and business will return to normal soon enough.
August 29th, 2010 at 9:54 pm
[...] Stani Army » Blog Archive » Pakistan cricket is destroyed [...]
August 30th, 2010 at 12:34 am
@nowayjose –
Would you mind expanding on what you’re trying to suggest? Are you saying that this is all because of the money around cricket in India, Indian bookies and the Indian betting syndicates and markets?
August 30th, 2010 at 1:39 am
Stani Army » Blog Archive » Pakistan cricket is destroyed…
I found your entry interesting do I’ve added a Trackback to it on my weblog
…
August 30th, 2010 at 11:48 am
This is a big shock to the world of cricket and is severly damaging for the international reputation of Pakistan.
People are already calling for lifetime bans for the players and suspension / expulsion for the Pakistani Team from International.
I just hope the ICC do not get dragged along with the media frenzy and take the time neeeded to make the right decision.
Perhaps this is a good thing ? I know it sound mad but it may be it will give the country a chance to “clear the decks” at the PCB and start again, with administration that is good for the team and the game?
August 30th, 2010 at 11:51 am
Is there not a simple answer to all this? Except that temptations are too high for the players and suspend spot betting on cricket!
August 30th, 2010 at 2:21 pm
@Cricket Balls –
I agree, there is a danger of over reaction and punishing those that are at no fault. Banning Pakistan from cricket would be a step too far and a needless one at that. The players at fault should be removed, fined and banned. Hopefully Pakistan cricket will take this chance and flush out this disease.
Yes, they can stop legal spot betting but the illegal markets will just take over.
August 30th, 2010 at 5:20 pm
TJ. I take your point about illegal books but is there not an argument that if you operate an illegal book you get what comes your way?
Although I suppose the issue for cricket is still the same, so I don’t know what the answer is. Apart from banning those involved for life from the international game, yes its harsh but it is the only deterent, without it the game is finished as a professional sport.
August 30th, 2010 at 5:35 pm
@Cricket Balls –
Yes, and I think the issue goes very deep. If the Pakistan players had a basic wage like that of the English players, would they engage in these things? That’s just one aspect but I hope to post on it as the story develops. I’m sure there’ll be lots of ideas coming up.