England v Pakistan

[Spy Bee]

Spot betting. It's against the young lad Amir too, which is such a shame. Bizarrely it's not about the batting collapses.

[George Costanza]

probably sounds wrong but its hardly a suprise when Pakistan are invloved.

 

They've got a cracking bowling line up imo but their batting is shocking apart from Butt and Yousef. They have absolutely zero mental strength/application though.

[Red Mist]

Hardly a shock, Pakistani cricketers are crooked as they come. Always have been, always will be.

[Gooch]

Would be such a shame if it was Amir, why do it?? Asif put himself in the shit when he was starting out, might of thought he would of learnt from that.

[Red Mist]

Would be such a shame if it was Amir, why do it?? Asif put himself in the shit when he was starting out, might of thought he would of learnt from that.

I would expect it to be him. A naive young kid in a foreign country would probably not think anything of being asked to throw a few no balls in a cricket match in return for some money. I doubt he's even aware that it's illegal and unsporting.

[Gooch]

I would expect it to be him. A naive young kid in a foreign country would probably not think anything of being asked to throw a few no balls in a cricket match in return for some money. I doubt he's even aware that it's illegal and unsporting.

 

Well allegedly, i've just read that this is far more than just Amir, it says Salmun Butt is the ring leader, it's three no balls involving Amir and Asif.

[RJ Fan club]

I would expect it to be him. A naive young kid in a foreign country would probably not think anything of being asked to throw a few no balls in a cricket match in return for some money. I doubt he's even aware that it's illegal and unsporting.

 

I bet he's fully aware of the legality and morality of it.

 

You need better bait than that.

[Red Mist]

I bet he's fully aware of the legality and morality of it.

 

You need better bait than that.

Hardly 'bait'. He's 18, from a remote village in Pakistan, a country where gambling is almost unheard of. For all he knows, throwing matches for money is the norm.

[Gooch]

As soon as i heard it was no balls, the massive one made by Amir immediately came to mind. He may be young but he knew what he was doing.

[RJ Fan club]

Hardly 'bait'. He's 18, from a remote village in Pakistan, a country where gambling is almost unheard of. For all he knows, throwing matches for money is the norm.

 

He's a professional sportsman, played the game since he was probably about 6 or earlier and will be well aware of his responsibilities. He doubtlessly has a contract and will have been fully briefed.

 

He may not have imagined he'd be collared, or that it is as serious as it is. But don't tell me he doesn't know it's wrong. Get some better bait.

[King Emlyn]

Inexcusable, are lifetime bans likely? In the case of Amir it will be a shame because he was going to be very, very special but they all have to be massively punished if guilty.

[Ian Sea]

How can the News of the World get away with setting people up in these stings all the time? Surely it's illegal?

[lifetime fan]

I wonder if a few of them had a few quid on England to win the test ala the Aussies?

 

I still wouldn't count this out. Just because there has been no allegation of match fixing yet doesn't mean it hasn't being going on. The way I suggested would be far harder to trace.

 

Butt is obviously involved (the fixer knew who would be bowling each over), unfortunately young Amir is involved and so is Asif.

 

Makes a fucking mockery of Inzamam-ul-Haq and the outrage the Pakistanis caused after being called for tampering with the ball by Darrel Hair.

 

I don't give a fuck what country, race or religion someone is, it ain't nice to be accused of cheating. When you have a record of it, it's more likely to happen, tough shit.

Edited August 29, 2010 by lifetime fan

[lifetime fan]

Hardly 'bait'. He's 18, from a remote village in Pakistan, a country where gambling is almost unheard of. For all he knows, throwing matches for money is the norm.

 

Please explain those two setences.

[Guest PurpleNose]

How do any of you know this stuff for certain?

[1892-LFCWasBorn]

Team look like they are actually coming out of their hotel.

[Guest davelfc]

Team look like they are actually coming out of their hotel.

 

Not for the first time stepping over the line.

[lifetime fan]

How do any of you know this stuff for certain?

 

No one does, yet.

 

Do you think they are entirely innocent?

[Guest PurpleNose]

No one does, yet.

 

Do you think they are entirely innocent?

 

I've got absolutely no idea.

[Kobayashi Maru]

Inexcusable, are lifetime bans likely? In the case of Amir it will be a shame because he was going to be very, very special but they all have to be massively punished if guilty.

 

Highly unlikely to be lifetime bans. Politically, it will be hard for the ICC to influence any stringent penalties with the PCB taking the lead to apply the necessary action. Will be banned for a limited time (if the allegations are proven), and fined, to take them out of the media glare for a while and then reinstated.

 

Any lifeterm bans will be in lieu and placed to pacify the public with a timetable set for it to be overturned. Asif and Akmal could possibly see their careers ending if proven to be involved, as they were pretty much on trial for past indiscretions. Akmal has previous form of allegations of match fixing and deliberately underperforming (from his own team management). Amir will get a slap on the wrists more than likely, taking into account his age and potential.

 

I state this, as a precedent on the process has been set previously on similar matters relating to this team.

[1892-LFCWasBorn]

Admittedly not watched that much of this series (just highlights), but watched all the no balls in question that Sky News showed. They were fucking horrendous. Even the commentators at the time said they were bizarre because of the length they overstepped.

 

I'm surprised no one has questioned their batting in this series yet.

 

65-7 now.

[Spy Bee]

Horrible atmosphere at Lords today. What started as a great game is just fizzling out. It's a shame.

[Spy Bee]

Tweet

BumbleCricket

 

Lord Condon is apparently aware of kidnapped families if players do not comply with these gangsters

[1892-LFCWasBorn]

And it's all over. Bit of a fight from Akmal, but another shambles of a batting performance from Pakistan.

[Superfly]

The whole series is under a cloud, for me anyway. All those dropped catches at Edgbaston, many of them very easy...Akmal being one of the worst culprits.

 

I do feel a bit sorry for Amir. He's 18 and he's probably just done what his skipper and senior players told him to do.