Clouds of match fixing now engulf England team- Cricket needs cleansing before fans lose interest
The match fixing allegations have now reached Oval, where the 3rd ODI between Pakistan and England was played. The late order collapse in England’s chase of 242 runs has raised many doubts about the match being fixed. England seemed to be cruising
along nicely and were 201 for 5 while Morgan and Wright also had a match changing partnership of 98 runs.
But, then Morgan whipped it of his legs and was caught in the deep; with this the collapse started and the hosts lost their next five wickets for just 18 runs. Umar Gul emerged as the star with his bowling spell of 6 for 42.
Afterwards, the British tabloids once again claimed the match to have been fixed. But, this time around, the PCB chairman, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ijaz-Butt-c64128, didn’t keep quiet and instead came forward blaming the English cricketers. Butt said, “This is not the conspiracy to defraud
bookies, but this is a conspiracy to defraud http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 cricket.” He added that there has been talk about English cricketers taking big amounts of money from the bookies.
It isn’t of a great doubt that if this match was fixed, then who lost it? Who should be the one to question? And also, who lost the last 5 wickets in just 18 runs? Surely, it was the English team who did all this. So, England’s batsman should be questioned.
It looks as Gul’s career best ODI performance, either he took the match away from England, or England lost it deliberately! Well, ICC is looking into the matter for now.
Butt was asked about the evidence in support of his claims, to which he replied in an aggressive tone saying that why don’t you ask other people for the proof who make the same statements. He also termed the International media as being biased. Meanwhile,
Pakistan has already been facing the same match fixing allegations. They have also lost three of their star players, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Amir and Salman Butt for now as the trio was accused of bowling no-balls deliberately, at Lord’s. The Trio has been
suspended by the ICC, under their code of conduct.
But, it seems highly unlikely that these players would be criminally charges by the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Scotland-c756 Yard as they might be punished by the cricket’s world governing body, if found guilty. Ijaz butt though, has always said that the players are innocent, till proven
guilty but he has also added that if any of them is found guilty then he will be dealt with harshly.
Moreover, Andrew Strauss, the English captain urged ICC to work for the integrity of sport. He said, “This is ICC’s job to clean the cricket with any corruption that is going on. They should do their job. This has been an awful tour for Pakistan and England.
It has been a tough month. We should concentrate on cricket and performance, as this is our main job. Our focus should be on winning every game we play. We are just one game away from another series win.
With the way things are going on right now, it appears as if all the Pakistan and England players would be truly relieved when the series is over. The last ODI would be played on the 22nd of this month, at http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Hampshire-c789. No doubt, it
has been a tough series for both teams as their on-field performances have been largely over shadowed by the off-field controversies. Cricket has been a gentlemen’s game, but the match fixing and spot fixing controversies have over shadowed its grace. Surely,
if these controversies aren’t wiped clear soon; they would haunt the sport in the future.
It shouldn’t be the cricket fan, who has to suffer. There is no sport without fans. Cricket should be cleansed of these allegations, before fans lose their interest.
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