So says Tino Best on Twitter. And he's right. This is a long way from being a lol matter.
Corruption in cricket, be it spot-fixing, match-fixing, or simply telling bookies things like the pitch condition has been probably going on for decades. While the ICC and cricket in general has done it's best to stick it's collective head in the sand about the issue and pretend it doesn't happen, given the testimony of Mazhar Majeed's council, it's plainly obvious that this is a much wider-spread issue. As much as we can pretend it doesn't happen, corruption and cheating is rife within cricket, and it's now that we need to start dealing with it.
There has been some debate over the past couple of days about whether it's right for cricketers who've "only" bowled no-balls to go to jail for their actions. Jail is a place for murderers and rapists, not for bowlers who lose their stride, right? Well, while the Crown Prosecution Service has absolutely nothing to do with the governance of world cricket, it's just as well that Majeed, Butt, Asif and Amir have been sent behind bars, as the puny punishments of the ICC act as absolutely no deterrent whatsoever. All three were found guilty by the ICC, but only given bans of a couple of years. What sort of message does that send to a cricketer thinking about getting involved in all of this? Take the money for a few years, get banned, then return a few years later to carry on? And that's all assuming the ICC actually find, stop and catch them, as lest we forget, it was only through the actions of a now defunct tabloid that Amir, Asif and Butt were even caught.
Butt, Asif and Amir have indeed been caught, and brought to justice. They'll now serve 30 months, 1 year, and 6 months behind bars respectively, which will hopefully resonate around the cricketing world. Will it stop the corruption in cricket? In the UK, maybe, as a legal precedent (and the threat of another sting) has been set, which should ward off any untoward activity on these shores. But around the world? The ICC Anti-Corruption squad has proved itself time and again to be toothless, and their inability to find or stop corruption since their conception is incredibly worrying. Butt, Amir and Asif were just plain unlucky to have been caught out by the News of the World; but for the sting they'd likely be still going on now, and would be going on for a while. Just as the other cases of corruption is probably still going on, and will go on, for a while.
The ICC should be spearheading the push against corruption, and with a strong governing body who are naturally suspicious and able to police things effectively, the problem could be stamped out. So when head of the ICC anti-corruption and security unit Ronnie Flanagan says things like "corruption is certainly not rampant in the world of cricket", it hardly sends out a strong message to the corrupt that the ICC are on their case and they should stop.
Cricket is in a mess, and while we will of course enjoy the game we love when it's played, every time there is a fumbled catch, bungled run-out or overstepped no-ball, the doubts will creep in over whether we are seeing a genuine sporting contest between two top-level sides, or whether we're just watching the outcome of a heavily scripted money-making operation. While I'm sure the majority of teams and players aren't involved, there does appear to be a culture of corruption in cricket. Having one spot-fixer in world cricket is too many, and until each and every one is stamped out, there will always be that slight element of doubt hanging over each match we see.
It is a terribly sad day for cricket that an international captain and his opening bowlers have been sent to jail for perverting the sport, but hopefully we can look back on this day as a landmark in the history of the sport. A day that set us on the road to clearing out the corrupt and getting them out of cricket. The question is, can it be done?
Showing posts with label Mohammad Amir. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mohammad Amir. Show all posts
Thursday, 3 November 2011
Sunday, 29 August 2010
A hollow morning at Lord's
That was the most bizarre day of cricket, at any form or level I've ever seen.
Walking from Baker Street tube when St John's Wood is closed is never the most fun of activities, but the crowds on the way to Lord's were deathly quiet. Taking my seat in the Warner Stand, I looked around to see at least ten copies of the News of the World. Hardly the normal paper of choice for frequenters of Lord's. But this was not a normal day.
Pakistan started the day four down and 300 runs behind. They were always going to lose. But the result didn't seem to matter. Umpires Bowden and Hill took to the field. England followed them. Then came Pakistani batsmen Ali and Umar Akmal. Nobody quite knew what to do. The ever polite MCC members clapped them on. Was it tradition? Did they not know the story? The sparse crowds followed suit. I was the only audible boo.
Wickets fell regularly. England barely celebrated. It hardly registered with the crowd. There were a few boo's when Mohammad Amir walked to the crease, and a few people ironically called out no-ball for Jimmy Anderson's deliveries to Amir. He only lasted four balls before departing for a duck. He returned to silence. It may be the last time he ever appears on a cricket field.
All the while England were wrapping up the game and the series, rumours were flying around on Twitter. Salman Butt's done a runner. Gangsters have kidnapped Pakistani players families. Phones have been seized. The England players were trudging around in the field - seemingly shell-shocked. For a side winning so comfortably their behaviour was so unusual. Kevin Pietersen told Michael Vaughan that the news had "hit the players hard". It certainly looked it.
It had certainly hit the crowd hard. I was sat almost in the exact same seat as last year when England beat Australia at Lord's. Flintoff's five-for and all that. The atmosphere that day was spectacular, energy and excitement surging through the crowd. Today was everything but. England were winning, with the same level of impressive performance but there was a very different mood around Lord's.
Umar Akmal made fifty. Extravagant shot followed extravagant shot. All applauded meekly from the galleries. He even put on a fifty partnership with last man Mohammad Asif. Akmal was playing like a man knowing he may never get another chance. If implicated, he may not.
Swann took the last wicket, his fifth in the innings. It's the first time GP Swann will appear on the honours board. He sheepishly raised the ball to the crowd politely acknowledging England's series win. Perhaps Swann realised his name will go directly below Amir's.
The crowd did offer congratulations to England, who simply walked off the pitch. No celebrations. No unconcealed joy. Many of the crowd simply left their seats and went home.
I hung around for a bit, hoping for some gossip. Young autograph hunters were told they were wasting their time - no autographs today. The rumour that Salman Butt didn't even go the ground was gathering momentum. With no sign of a public presentation, I left.
Without wanting to sound cliched I feel cheated. Cricket feels cheated. Days 2 and 3 were the best two days of test cricket, but after last nights revelations, it all feels hollow. Nobody can trust that anything achieved on those days, or this series, or in cricket in general is above board and beyond reproach. People I've spoken to feel angry that the actions of a few can ruin the reputation of a sport. The hope must be that this is the end to revelations. If we are to believe Mazhar Majeed's boasting, this is only the start.
Walking from Baker Street tube when St John's Wood is closed is never the most fun of activities, but the crowds on the way to Lord's were deathly quiet. Taking my seat in the Warner Stand, I looked around to see at least ten copies of the News of the World. Hardly the normal paper of choice for frequenters of Lord's. But this was not a normal day.
Pakistan started the day four down and 300 runs behind. They were always going to lose. But the result didn't seem to matter. Umpires Bowden and Hill took to the field. England followed them. Then came Pakistani batsmen Ali and Umar Akmal. Nobody quite knew what to do. The ever polite MCC members clapped them on. Was it tradition? Did they not know the story? The sparse crowds followed suit. I was the only audible boo.
Wickets fell regularly. England barely celebrated. It hardly registered with the crowd. There were a few boo's when Mohammad Amir walked to the crease, and a few people ironically called out no-ball for Jimmy Anderson's deliveries to Amir. He only lasted four balls before departing for a duck. He returned to silence. It may be the last time he ever appears on a cricket field.
All the while England were wrapping up the game and the series, rumours were flying around on Twitter. Salman Butt's done a runner. Gangsters have kidnapped Pakistani players families. Phones have been seized. The England players were trudging around in the field - seemingly shell-shocked. For a side winning so comfortably their behaviour was so unusual. Kevin Pietersen told Michael Vaughan that the news had "hit the players hard". It certainly looked it.
It had certainly hit the crowd hard. I was sat almost in the exact same seat as last year when England beat Australia at Lord's. Flintoff's five-for and all that. The atmosphere that day was spectacular, energy and excitement surging through the crowd. Today was everything but. England were winning, with the same level of impressive performance but there was a very different mood around Lord's.
Umar Akmal made fifty. Extravagant shot followed extravagant shot. All applauded meekly from the galleries. He even put on a fifty partnership with last man Mohammad Asif. Akmal was playing like a man knowing he may never get another chance. If implicated, he may not.
Swann took the last wicket, his fifth in the innings. It's the first time GP Swann will appear on the honours board. He sheepishly raised the ball to the crowd politely acknowledging England's series win. Perhaps Swann realised his name will go directly below Amir's.
The crowd did offer congratulations to England, who simply walked off the pitch. No celebrations. No unconcealed joy. Many of the crowd simply left their seats and went home.
I hung around for a bit, hoping for some gossip. Young autograph hunters were told they were wasting their time - no autographs today. The rumour that Salman Butt didn't even go the ground was gathering momentum. With no sign of a public presentation, I left.
Without wanting to sound cliched I feel cheated. Cricket feels cheated. Days 2 and 3 were the best two days of test cricket, but after last nights revelations, it all feels hollow. Nobody can trust that anything achieved on those days, or this series, or in cricket in general is above board and beyond reproach. People I've spoken to feel angry that the actions of a few can ruin the reputation of a sport. The hope must be that this is the end to revelations. If we are to believe Mazhar Majeed's boasting, this is only the start.
Saturday, 28 August 2010
Stuart Broad's Hundred
Stuart Broad has always been my favourite player. Ever since he played Pakistan in a few ODIs in 2006, he was my favourite. I loved his boyish enthusiasm as he would run in, and his joyous celebrations when he would take a wicket. I followed his career closely; from being snubbed by Fletcher for the Australia ODI tour, to being called up late for the finals; from missing out on the World Cup before replacing Jon Lewis; establishing himself in the ODI side under Peter Moores. I was gutted when Chris Tremlett was picked for the India test series ahead of Broad. I stayed up late to watch him eventually make his test bow in Sri Lanka. Being picked in New Zealand ahead of Hoggard and never looking back. Taking THAT five for and winning the Ashes last year. Winning the World Cup.
Stuart Broad could always bat. His dad had 6 test centuries, it was genetically written in the stars. He had (along with Ravi Bopara) a record England ODI stand. He had a golden summer v New Zealand and South Africa where he regularly made fifties. He even got promoted to number seven for the fourth Ashes test. He had all the shots; drives, cuts, clips through midwicket. He was an elegant late-order batsman - too good to be considered a tail-ender. He was born to score test centuries.
But then.
While his stock continued to rise with the ball, fortunes with the bat decreased. A poor run of form led to relegation to number nine - far too low for a man seen as Flintoff's natural replacement at seven only twelve months ago. But as upset and angry as he must have been, his poor performances had deserved it.
Broad walked to the crease on Friday at 102-7. Ducks for Pietersen, Collingwood, Morgan and the man preferred to him at eight Swann. Amir was getting prodigious swing. Broad wasn't flustered. This was not a tail-enders innings.
Text book drives, pulls and hooks (including a hooked six off Amir). Broad looked every inch a class test batsman, no scratchy edges or chancy singles. Matching Jonathan Trott shot for shot after passing fifty, Broad sauntered through the sixties, skipped through the seventies and eased through the eighties. Yes, he was nervous in the nineties, but who wouldn't be? Passing 91, his previous top ever score was just another milestone after also reaching his 1000th test run.
On 98, left arm run leaker Wahab Riaz gave Broad a leg stump half volley. As Broad lifted it away for three, the atmosphere was electric. The ovation was immediate, and continued well after Broad had gone through the rigmarole of kissing the badge and waving the bat. Lord's rose as one to celebrate an immense innings.
Given the situation, given the conditions and given the moment, it was up there with the best. As a Stuart Broad fan, it was equally as special, and I was glad to be there to witness it. When Broad eventually departed for 169, he and Trott had put on over 330 for the 8th wicket - breaking all sorts of records and turning the game on its head.
Stuart Broad may not be the most popular player around the world, but to me he's amongst my favourites. He may not quite have reached "Swann" status yet, but he's not far off it. It may not have been as good an innings as Trott's, but it was just as important. So congratulate Stuart Broad, for the innings of his life and maiden first class century. Here's to many more!
Stuart Broad could always bat. His dad had 6 test centuries, it was genetically written in the stars. He had (along with Ravi Bopara) a record England ODI stand. He had a golden summer v New Zealand and South Africa where he regularly made fifties. He even got promoted to number seven for the fourth Ashes test. He had all the shots; drives, cuts, clips through midwicket. He was an elegant late-order batsman - too good to be considered a tail-ender. He was born to score test centuries.
But then.
While his stock continued to rise with the ball, fortunes with the bat decreased. A poor run of form led to relegation to number nine - far too low for a man seen as Flintoff's natural replacement at seven only twelve months ago. But as upset and angry as he must have been, his poor performances had deserved it.
Broad walked to the crease on Friday at 102-7. Ducks for Pietersen, Collingwood, Morgan and the man preferred to him at eight Swann. Amir was getting prodigious swing. Broad wasn't flustered. This was not a tail-enders innings.
Text book drives, pulls and hooks (including a hooked six off Amir). Broad looked every inch a class test batsman, no scratchy edges or chancy singles. Matching Jonathan Trott shot for shot after passing fifty, Broad sauntered through the sixties, skipped through the seventies and eased through the eighties. Yes, he was nervous in the nineties, but who wouldn't be? Passing 91, his previous top ever score was just another milestone after also reaching his 1000th test run.
On 98, left arm run leaker Wahab Riaz gave Broad a leg stump half volley. As Broad lifted it away for three, the atmosphere was electric. The ovation was immediate, and continued well after Broad had gone through the rigmarole of kissing the badge and waving the bat. Lord's rose as one to celebrate an immense innings.
Given the situation, given the conditions and given the moment, it was up there with the best. As a Stuart Broad fan, it was equally as special, and I was glad to be there to witness it. When Broad eventually departed for 169, he and Trott had put on over 330 for the 8th wicket - breaking all sorts of records and turning the game on its head.
Stuart Broad may not be the most popular player around the world, but to me he's amongst my favourites. He may not quite have reached "Swann" status yet, but he's not far off it. It may not have been as good an innings as Trott's, but it was just as important. So congratulate Stuart Broad, for the innings of his life and maiden first class century. Here's to many more!
Sunday, 22 August 2010
Podcast - MoYo, Morgan and Mo Amir
A roundup of the 3rd England v Pakistan test, as well as the start of the Ashes countdown. Sorry about the sound quality for the last 30 seconds - not my fault! (Well, only sort of my fault).
Monday, 2 August 2010
Pakistan should listen to my podcast...
I recorded a podcast yesterday afternoon. England had won the first test very comfortably, and I pottered down to my podcast recording studio (it's not as glamourous as it sounds - it's just a glorified shed) to speak about it. I said that I back Danish Kaneria to take loads of wickets in the next test, and that Pakistan would be stupid to pick Mohammad Yousuf as it would only disrupt the team. I also said that it wouldn't happen.
Cue my surprise later on when I saw that Kaneria had been dropped, and that Yousuf was in the squad for the next test at Edgbaston. Incidentally, this was before I had done all of my fancy editing (ie removing my awkwardly unfunny jokes and frequent 'eeeeerrrrrm's), but I decided to leave my advice to the Pakistani selectors in there. Because I know that I'll be right.
Pakistan will miss Kaneria's fix of spin (see what I did there?)especially if Edgbaston's a turner. And Yousuf won't be able to stroll into a team after a few months away from cricket and make runs. In fact, he may not be able to stroll into the country at all due to issues with securing a visa. If neither Yousuf or Kaneria play and Pakistan are further humiliated by England (which I also predict), I await the call to become the next Pakistan chairman of selectors. I might as well, everyone else in cricket's had a go...
NB - A few days ago I said I was growing a beard in an attempt to look older than Mo Amir. With MoYo back in the team, I've had a shave. There's no way I can compete with that bad boy.
Cue my surprise later on when I saw that Kaneria had been dropped, and that Yousuf was in the squad for the next test at Edgbaston. Incidentally, this was before I had done all of my fancy editing (ie removing my awkwardly unfunny jokes and frequent 'eeeeerrrrrm's), but I decided to leave my advice to the Pakistani selectors in there. Because I know that I'll be right.
Pakistan will miss Kaneria's fix of spin (see what I did there?)especially if Edgbaston's a turner. And Yousuf won't be able to stroll into a team after a few months away from cricket and make runs. In fact, he may not be able to stroll into the country at all due to issues with securing a visa. If neither Yousuf or Kaneria play and Pakistan are further humiliated by England (which I also predict), I await the call to become the next Pakistan chairman of selectors. I might as well, everyone else in cricket's had a go...
NB - A few days ago I said I was growing a beard in an attempt to look older than Mo Amir. With MoYo back in the team, I've had a shave. There's no way I can compete with that bad boy.
Friday, 30 July 2010
Why Mo Amir is making me grow a beard
I like Mohammad Amir. I like how he's burst on to the scene with his destructive left-arm swingers. I like how he doesn't respect the cricketing order. I like how he got under Ricky Ponting's skin, leading to an elbow from Ponting.
What I don't like about him is his age. He is credited as being 18. He patently is not 18. No 18 year old is able to swing the ball like him, or have that level of temprament. And no 18 year old has the facial features of Amir, which make him look closer to 25.
I'm 17. I look much closer to 14. When people have spoken about Amir with me, I have been compared to the Pakistani swinger. And laughed at. While Amir is not 18, he is giving us late-teens a bad name.
I can just about grow a beard. Not a very good one, but a beard is a beard. I've given up shaving until the end of the test series, just so I can look slightly more Amir-esque. I still think England will win 3-0 though.
What I don't like about him is his age. He is credited as being 18. He patently is not 18. No 18 year old is able to swing the ball like him, or have that level of temprament. And no 18 year old has the facial features of Amir, which make him look closer to 25.
I'm 17. I look much closer to 14. When people have spoken about Amir with me, I have been compared to the Pakistani swinger. And laughed at. While Amir is not 18, he is giving us late-teens a bad name.
I can just about grow a beard. Not a very good one, but a beard is a beard. I've given up shaving until the end of the test series, just so I can look slightly more Amir-esque. I still think England will win 3-0 though.
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