England vs Pakistan

[Neil Young]

info on teams, weather and the pitch has no bearing on the result. It just helps the bookies choose their odds.

Oh, that's a convenient place to draw the line. Quelle surprise.

Do you think three no-balls have any bearing on the result of Test match?

As for the specifics of the case about the Australian cricketers, I'm not saying they were corrupt and either the details weren't uncovered or it was all swept under the carpet but if players have a business relationship of any sort with bookmakers then they're open to corruption.

[Harv]

Depends when the no balls are delivered.

But either way its something thats occurring during the game, so it can have a bearing.

[Alex]

Oh, that's a convenient place to draw the line. Quelle surprise.

Do you think three no-balls have any bearing on the result of Test match?

As for the specifics of the case about the Australian cricketers, I'm not saying they were corrupt and either the details weren't uncovered or it was all swept under the carpet but if players have a business relationship of any sort with bookmakers then they're open to corruption.

Honestly yes, as Harv said its when there delivered.

Also, if these players are thinking more on when there to deliver a No Ball, then there not thinking about getting the Batsman out. There focus isnt on the game, but what they have to do for this agent.

[Neil Young]

Honestly yes, as Harv said its when there delivered.

Also, if these players are thinking more on when there to deliver a No Ball, then there not thinking about getting the Batsman out. There focus isnt on the game, but what they have to do for this agent.

Oh come off it. A no-ball just an extra ball, an extra run (or two or three...) You can't say Amir didn't bowl all his other deliveries with anything other than genuine intent.

The only way three no-balls can definitely be said to affect the outcome is if the winning margin is ridiculously close, something which is very, very rare and, of course, certainly did not apply in this series.

[Alex]

Oh come off it. A no-ball just an extra ball, an extra run (or two or three...) You can't say Amir didn't bowl all his other deliveries with anything other than genuine intent.

The only way three no-balls can definitely be said to affect the outcome is if the winning margin is ridiculously close, something which is very, very rare and, of course, certainly did not apply in this series.

All im saying is that insted of thinking about getting wickets he was thinking about the orders of his no ball deliveries. Clearly his mind was elsewere

[Neil Young]

All im saying is that insted of thinking about getting wickets he was thinking about the orders of his no ball deliveries. Clearly his mind was elsewere

6 for 84 at an average of 3 runs per over. A bowling average of 14.00. Pakistan's Man of the Series too.

England were lucky he wasn't concentrating.

[Alex]

6 for 84 at an average of 3 runs per over. A bowling average of 14.00. Pakistan's Man of the Series too.

England were lucky he wasn't concentrating.

Not anymore

[Tee]

Embarassing.... corrupt at every level... even having the nerve to try and cover this up before the Police investigations are complete...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cric...nd/8964408.stm

Pakistan commissioner believes trio were "set-up"

The three Pakistan cricketers accused of corruption may have been set up, according to the country's high commissioner Wajid Shamsul Hasan.

When asked whether Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir, who are being investigated for spot-fixing, had been framed, Hasan replied: "Yes."

Hasan claims the News of the World video allegedly exposing the scandal may have been made after the incident.

However, the paper said it "refuses to respond to such ludicrous allegations".

Asif and Amir are alleged to have bowled three no-balls on purpose at pre-determined times to facilitate betting coups after a "middle-man" accepted £150,000 in cash from an undercover reporter from the News of the World.

The newspaper published the claims last Sunday, just days after the incidents were alleged to have taken place on the Thursday and Friday of the fourth Test at Lord's.

The cricketers Hasan referred to, all now at the centre of a police investigation, will miss the rest of their country's tour of England.

Before stating that he believed the players may have been framed, Hasan earlier on Thursday insisted the players were "innocent".

"The players have voluntarily offered not to be included [in the tour]," he said. "They want to clear their names first."

Later he emerged from a Pakistan Cricket Board inquiry in London to tell the BBC that the News of the World videotape of its meeting with the "middle-man" - cricket agent Mazhar Majeed - was inconclusive.

"You [the media] are jumping to conclusions, because no-balls are not taped like that," he said.

"We have not seen videos - what the time [was when they were taken], what the date [was]... whether they were taken before or after the match."

"Do you have answers to the questions?"

When asked if the video could be fake, he replied: "You [the media] must know better because you are the media people."

[Buzzo]

6 for 84 at an average of 3 runs per over. A bowling average of 14.00. Pakistan's Man of the Series too.

England were lucky he wasn't concentrating.

The tragedy exists because the spell that Amir bowled in advance of his no ball was absolutely outstanding. As someone posted during the actual game he was pretty much unplayable at this point. For him to then be in a position where he jeapordised his entire career by bowling a no ball is nothing short of scandalous.

I do not know how justice prevails in this instance. If Amir in particular is guilty what do you do? You ban him and you make an example of him, but you deprive the cricketing world of an outstanding talent. Let him play and you set a precedent which allows for bribery within sport.

If they are convicted I don't think it is as cut and dry as to say these guys are greedy, stupid - yes. I believe that there is an element of grooming and convincing which goes on in advance of these events. I am not justifying it, but I think there is a hell of a lot more to this issue than will be resolved by banning these 3 players.

[Buzzo]

Not looking good for them.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/8953417.stm

Pakistan 'corruption' trio charged and suspended by ICC

The three Pakistan cricketers accused of corruption have been charged with various offences by the International Cricket Council.

Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir are being investigated by police over allegations Asif and Amir bowled deliberate no-balls against England.

The ICC charges relate to "alleged irregular behaviour" in the fourth Test at Lord's last Thursday and Friday.

Provisionally suspended, the trio now have 14 days to appeal.

Asif and Amir are alleged to have bowled three no-balls at pre-determined times to facilitate betting coups after a "middle-man" was reported to have accepted £150,000 from an undercover reporter from the News of the World, who published the story on Sunday.

"We will not tolerate corruption in cricket - simple as that," said ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat.

"We must be decisive with such matters and if proven, these offences carry serious penalties up to a life ban.

"The ICC will do everything possible to keep such conduct out of the game and we will stop at nothing to protect the sport's integrity.

"While we believe the problem is not widespread, we must always be vigilant.

"It is important, however, that we do not pre-judge the guilt of these three players. That is for the independent tribunal alone to decide."

Butt, Asif and Amir have been officially notified of the offences they are alleged to have committed.

Any player ultimately found to be guilty of committing an offence under the code would be subject to the sanctions described in the ICC's Anti-Corruption Code for Players and Player Support Personnel.

That could mean upholding the player's indefinite ban with the possibility, at the discretion of an independent tribunal, of additional fines.

Details of the date of the tribunal hearing are to be finalised.

More to follow.

[-V-]

Guilty or Not, I don't think ICC are right to suspend them before Scotland Yard have even interviewed them.

[Tee]

Guilty or Not, I don't think ICC are right to suspend them before Scotland Yard have even interviewed them.

Personally I think it may have been a bit of a tit for tat measure afte rthe Ambassadors cringeworthy defence of the trio earlier today.

[-V-]

What happened to innocent until proven guilty? The police haven't even formally interviewed yet. Plus the PCB have already pulled them out of action anyway.

Im not saying that I think they are innocent, just that the ICC are amateurs.

[Neil Young]

Lots of people get suspended from their jobs if they're under investigation, under criminal law or internal disciplinary procedures.

I agree the ICC shouldn't have done it because the PCB should have, meaning the ICC didn't need to. I suggest the Pakistani authorities are every bit as much guilty of "playing to the public gallery" as the ICC, if not more so.

[Tee]

Lots of people get suspended from their jobs if they're under investigation, under criminal law or internal disciplinary procedures.

I agree the ICC shouldn't have done it because the PCB should have, meaning the ICC didn't need to. I suggest the Pakistani authorities are every bit as much guilty of "playing to the public gallery" as the ICC, if not more so.

IAFN

The Ambassador for Pakistan was an utter joker.... how he could make his judgement before any of the investigations are complete and make such public statements is shocking. Really is an indictment of the Pakistan Government.

I expect this saga will rumble on for a long long time now.