Yet Another Pakistan Match Fixing Scandal
@RawBill1 (8531)
Gold Coast, Australia
August 29, 2010 6:23pm CST
I just heard on the radio that as many as seven top Pakistani players, including captain Salman Butt are being accused of match fixing in England on their recent tour there.
As if their was not enough bad news surrounding Pakistan with those devastating floods, this will hurt the country further as I know how much the people there love their cricket. 
Pakistan have been a controversial team for many years as they have been in trouble for ball tampering and various other things over the years. They are also already in a lot of trouble as a team as no other countries want to go and play them on their home soil as they consider it too dangerous. 
Is this the final straw for Pakistani cricket on the world stage? Should they be banned from competing if they are found guilty of cheating again?
Pakistan have been a controversial team for many years as they have been in trouble for ball tampering and various other things over the years. They are also already in a lot of trouble as a team as no other countries want to go and play them on their home soil as they consider it too dangerous.
Is this the final straw for Pakistani cricket on the world stage? Should they be banned from competing if they are found guilty of cheating again?3 people like this
7 responses
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
30 Aug 10
No-one is more sadder than me and John over this as we thoroughly enjoyed Trott and Broad piling on those runs and it's all been tainted by this controversy that continually follows this Pakistan team like a bad smell.
What is wrong with them? Granted, their pay won't be the same as the England or Australia cricket teams but that's down to their Board. It should be sorted out. I'm not condoning what they've been up to; it's just if they were paid more perhaps they wouldn't be tempted? I dunno; as John said, "they're corrupt from the bottom up" which sums them up.
There's a Pakistani commentator over here (can't remember his name) and you could tell he was genuinely ashamed and shocked about the goings-on, especially that 18 year old bowler. It really does take the gloss off England's achievements and I feel sorry for everyone who is a legitimate cricketer wherever they may be from.
The Home of Cricket too..SHAMEFUL!
What is wrong with them? Granted, their pay won't be the same as the England or Australia cricket teams but that's down to their Board. It should be sorted out. I'm not condoning what they've been up to; it's just if they were paid more perhaps they wouldn't be tempted? I dunno; as John said, "they're corrupt from the bottom up" which sums them up.
There's a Pakistani commentator over here (can't remember his name) and you could tell he was genuinely ashamed and shocked about the goings-on, especially that 18 year old bowler. It really does take the gloss off England's achievements and I feel sorry for everyone who is a legitimate cricketer wherever they may be from.
The Home of Cricket too..SHAMEFUL!
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
30 Aug 10
I know! What about the Australian game where the Aussies came back from a losing position to win the test? How legitimate was that? I heard Ricky Ponting saying on the radio today that he had felt the team had worked really hard for that victory and they were really proud of it. Now they have doubts in their mind over whether it was their ability or a case of match fixing. 
I feel sorry for the Pakistan public who adore their sporting heroes. If they get banned, what else do they have to look forward to in Pakistan? It is not exactly a pleasant place!
You are right, they would not get paid as highly as our teams, but then the cost of living over there is cheaper too. It is just greed and corruption gone mad! 
I feel sorry for the Pakistan public who adore their sporting heroes. If they get banned, what else do they have to look forward to in Pakistan? It is not exactly a pleasant place!
You are right, they would not get paid as highly as our teams, but then the cost of living over there is cheaper too. It is just greed and corruption gone mad! @RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
31 Aug 10
I feel sorry for the public there too. They threw tomatoes at them! Wow! 
I know what you mean about their future games. How can the cricketing world trust the team at all. I feel that it is way bigger than just those players that have been caught out this time. It has to come from a deep seeded learning pattern in their culture there I think.
I know what you mean about their future games. How can the cricketing world trust the team at all. I feel that it is way bigger than just those players that have been caught out this time. It has to come from a deep seeded learning pattern in their culture there I think. @Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
30 Aug 10
Apparently, lots of past Tests are going to be looked at that Pakistan have been involved with. Not sure of other formats of the game but the likes of Ricky Ponting and our England team of course, must be feeling like sh*t at the moment because they just DON'T KNOW how long this has been going on for. I have mixed feelings about allowing the Pakistan team to play the one-dayers that are coming up. I suppose they could suspend the ones involved but could they be replaced by players that are honest? Are the whole team like that but haven't been caught out yet? It's an awful situation and the players got hit by loads of tomatoes when they came out of their hotel earlier today. It's the only thing Pakistanis could do without being arrested. The poor fans..I feel so sorry for them and the plight the country is in at present.
@grvdubey11 (1879)
• India
30 Aug 10
Actually this is age old problem with Pakistan, not only match fixing they have a strange habit of under performing to get a rival team out of any given tournament,so what i mean to say is they not only under perform for money but also this is the part of the tactics they use many times to win a tournament.I would like to mention some incidents there was a test championship between Pakistan ,Srilanka and India.That time Srilanka was not a big team in test cricket as they are now, so Pakistan underperformed against Srilanka in the match so that India is knocked out of the tournament.Similarly in champions trophy , they didnt even try to give a fight to Australian team to make sure they lose and India goes out of the competition.That was really strange thinking that India if qualifies can beat them in final but Aussies cannot, its strange because Australian ODI team is better than Indian ODI team.Now point here is if you are habitual of under performing deliberately then you will do it again and again.Pakistani players want to earn the money as they are not sure of their place in the team ,any time there can be a controversy and then big changes , new captain new players and all that.So when a player is out he either has to play county cricket or coach somewhere , its Not like England Aus and India that you go out of team still you are earning handsome amount of money.There is no platform available for them like IPL or champions league and also there board is poor as no international matches are being held in Pakistan and chances are slim in the future.So for all these reasons players think that till i am in the team i should earn maximum money to safeguard my bread and butter in future .Not only this match there are many matches when Pakistan team lose hold of a match totally in there favor deliberately.Earlier also they had players like Salim Malik who only played well against India to become national heroes and then under perform against other teams to earn money by match fixing.Not only Pakistan this was the problem in Indian team also,players like Prabhakar , Azar etc were caught in match fixing incidents but since last 10 years there has been lot of money in Indian cricket , also by getting good coaches like Greg Chappel , John wright and Gary Kirsten also dedicated captains like Ganguly and Dhoni. BCCI has been strict on this issue, i am sure PCB must be strict too but they have enough mess to look after .I think now definitely there should be a ban on Pakistani players involved and some other players should be given chance who are really dedicated towards circket and their country not towards money.
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
31 Aug 10
Thanks for your informative reply. It seems like you are well aware of the situation with Pakistani cricket. There is no doubt that their system needs looking at. Perhaps the ICC should look into administering the PCB so that changes can be made at the grass roots level of cricket in their country. If the ICC are serious about fixing this problem and keeping Pakistan in the world competition, then maybe this is what they have to do?
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
2 Sep 10
I do not think that there is an easy answer as the problem may be very deep there. It will take time to turn the culture around and make them respected again. It is going to be very hard for people to take their match results seriously from now on.
@grvdubey11 (1879)
• India
1 Sep 10
Thanks for your nice words mate, you are correct that Pak cricket lacks professionalism in the team and also in their cricketing system ,so important changes should be made at grass roots level . What worries me as a cricket fan is PCB and ICC can do everything to make things better but how will they teach players to be dedicated and passionate for their team and country , they need to learn from Steve Waugh , Mcgrath, Sachin Tendulkar and many other great players like these that how to give your 100 percent towards your country rather than becoming shame for your nation by doing corrupt acts like these.
@Manojknair (603)
• India
30 Aug 10
I strictly believe that , the players who betray their country should be banned for life time . Many time this has been happend with Pak players and they were let off because of lack of evidence. This time when i show thay taking maoney and bowling no-balls as per plan , I was shocked . Ban then now and get new young blood. Teach a leasson.
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
30 Aug 10
You are right, the players should be banned if they are found to be guilty. I think there is definitely a problem there in Pakistan at the grass roots level of the sport. Perhaps the ICC should think about administering the sport there for a few years in order to teach honesty and fairness.
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
30 Aug 10
I am not a cricket fan but I have heard about this. It is pretty disgraceful and, in my humble and inexperienced opinion on cricket I think that all those found cheating should receive a lifetime ban. There is no place in sports or anywhere for cheats...
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
30 Aug 10
I think that there are serious problems in the cricketing system over there. It is not just the fault of a handful of players. It seems to be a culture of needing to cheat. Perhaps their cricket board does not pay them enough? I do not think that the Pakistan Cricket Board would have a whole lot of money and this is only going to hurt them and the fans more. As if the public did not have enough to worry about there!
I think a lifetime ban for the players may be a little harsh, but at least a year or two they should get if found guilty. I think that they are only fairly young players.
I think a lifetime ban for the players may be a little harsh, but at least a year or two they should get if found guilty. I think that they are only fairly young players.
@tigeraunt (6326)
• Philippines
30 Aug 10
dear rawbill,
cricket is not a very popular game in my country but whatever game there is.. it should be played fairly and squarely. those that cheat should be banned. that is why it is called sport. 
have a nice day.
ann
have a nice day.
ann@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
30 Aug 10
To be fair to the team and it's players, it is not their fault that their country is unsafe and full of terrorists. But it is their fault that these cheating issues keep coming up all the time. By talking about banning them I mean having them sidelined from international competitions for a specified time. Perhaps a year would be an appropriate time. I don't know?
@lightknight60 (561)
• India
30 Aug 10
I don't think so ..They should not be banned . How can you bann a whole country because of few individuals . Yes , no matches have been played in Pakistan for 2 years now ! ..And that is also not their fault . It is the Talibans ! I am sure that situations will improve there !
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
30 Aug 10
I understand that it is not the teams fault that their country is unsafe and full of terrorists. I feel really sorry for them not being able to host other countries. But it is their fault that these cheating issues keep coming up all the time. I know that the board would not have as much income from not hosting games and therefore their players are probably not earning what they should be, but that is no excuse for cheating.
The players should be banned if they are found to be guilty, but I am not sure about the team. There is definitely a problem there at the grass roots level of the sport. Perhaps the ICC should think about administering the sport there for a few years in order to get some sort of structure and fairness in their learning. Something major needs to be done or it will just happen again with other players in a few years time!
The players should be banned if they are found to be guilty, but I am not sure about the team. There is definitely a problem there at the grass roots level of the sport. Perhaps the ICC should think about administering the sport there for a few years in order to get some sort of structure and fairness in their learning. Something major needs to be done or it will just happen again with other players in a few years time!
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
30 Aug 10
Hi Bill, don't know a thing about this but i think ANYONE who cheats should be banned. Hope all is well w/u. Happy days to u.
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
30 Aug 10
The thing is if they do ban Pakistan from playing, then it will ruin the moral of the people who are already struggling. Cricket is one of the few positive things that this country has. Ir is sad that it may be ruined for millions by the greed of just a few!
