http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXGpH4MUGKA
Lord's test resumes amidst match-fixing allegations
KARACHI: Pakistan was left reeling on Sunday by the latest allegations of match-fixing to plague the country’s beloved cricket team with former stars and officials demanding life bans for any players implicated.
Former spinner and chief selector Iqbal Qasim termed the allegations, which centred on the ongoing fourth Test against England at Lord’s, as a “great mishap.”
“The news is shocking and a great mishap,” Qasim told AFP.
“As far as I know, players have been accused of fancy fixing, to bowl no-balls so they all must be investigated seriously and then strict action must be taken against those who are proved guilty.”
Britain’s biggest-selling newspaper, the News of the World, claimed several blatant no-balls had been delivered by Pakistan bowlers during the Test at cricket’s spiritual home.
The weekly tabloid said it gave 150,000 pounds (230,000 dollars, 185,000 euros) to a middle man who correctly told them in advance precisely when those deliveries would be bowled.
Police in London have arrested a 35-year-old man in connection with the allegations.
Qasim heads the sports department of the National Bank.
That is the team for whom bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer, as well as skipper Salman Butt and Kamran Akmal play in the domestic season.
“It is a matter of Pakistan first, then comes the department they work for, so once they are proven guilty then action should be first taken against them for staining the image of the country and then comes the department they work for,” said Qasim.
Former paceman Sarfraz Nawaz said he was not shocked at the news.
“I have been vocal about Pakistan players’ involvement in match fixing,” Nawaz told AFP from London.
“I have said this before and now I reiterate that all the players involved must be banned for life because they have let the whole nation and the fans down. How often they have done that and we have let them off.”
Nawaz believes the team management and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have lacked the toughness to deal with the problems, citing allegations that bookmakers approached Pakistan players in their hotel in Colombo on a tour last year.
Iqbal Mohammad Ali, chairman of the sports committee of the National Assembly, also joined Nawaz in demanding life bans for the players.
“Enough is enough. Players have stained Pakistan’s image. All those who are found guilty must be banned for life,” said Ali.
The PCB said since the matter was under investigation no comment would be made at this stage.
Fans also reacted angrily to the news.
“It is disgusting,” said Mohammad Shariq, who was playing cricket on the roadside after early morning prayers on Sunday.
“We must get rid of the players who are involved in this malpractice and make a clean team.”If you want to follow news on your mobile, click on http://dawn.com/mobile/ and download Pakistan's first mobile news application. Currently this application is for Nokia phones only
LONDON: British police said on Saturday they had arrested a man on suspicion on conspiracy to defraud bookmakers following newspaper allegations of match-fixing in the ongoing Test between England and Pakistan.
The News of the World alleged that some members of the Pakistan team were involved in cheating in the fourth and final Test at Lord’s.
“Following information received from the News of the World we have arrested a 35-year old man on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud bookmakers,” said a spokesman for London’s Metropolitan Police.
‘I can confirm that we are aware of the allegations and Scotland Yard police are with us now at the hotel and we are helping them with their enquiries,” team manager Yawar Saeed told The Associated Press. “This is as much as I can say at the moment.”
News of the World, Britain’s biggest-selling newspaper, alleged that two Pakistan bowlers delivered three blatant no-balls to order.
The weekly tabloid said it gave 150,000 pounds to a middle man who correctly told them precisely when the deliveries would be bowled.
The newspaper published images and dialogue from the encounter and a picture of what it said was one of the promised no-balls on Friday.
Pakistan collapsed spectacularly yet again in the series as England closed in on an innings victory on Saturday.
At stumps, Pakistan, following-on, were 41 for four in their second innings, having been made to follow-on after they were dismissed for just 74 first time around.
That left them still 331 runs adrift of England’s first innings 446 as the home team eyed a victory that would give them a 3-1 win in their last series before begin the defence of the Ashes in Australia in November. —AgenciesIf you want to follow news on your mobile, click on http://dawn.com/mobile/ and download Pakistan's first mobile news application. Currently this application is for Nokia phones only Tags: match fixing match-fixing scandal pakistan cricket cricket pakistan in england 2010
The ICC had earlier confirmed play on Sunday would go ahead as scheduled. -AFPIf you want to follow news on your mobile, click on http://dawn.com/mobile/ and download Pakistan's first mobile news application. Currently this application is for Nokia phones only
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