Pakistan Cricket Reeling From Match Fixing Scandal as ODI Series in Jeopardy
The world awaits the verdict on the match-fixing scandal that has rocked the Pakistan cricket team. The management, players and the team has been tainted and has with its involvement shattered hopes of millions of fans around the world who have all praised & loved the game of cricket and the great skills and ability of the players that have ruled the world of cricket for many years.
On the other hand, the team is insistent on taking part in the One-Day and Twenty20 series against England, which is due to start on the 5th of the next month with a twenty-over fixture at Cardiff in Wales.
Their hopes of taking part in the series received a boost when the International Cricket Council announced that the series would go ahead as scheduled, yet gave a stark warning that any player found guilty in the scandal is set to be severely punished, including a life ban.
"Make no mistake - once the process is complete, if any players are found to be guilty, the ICC will ensure that the appropriate punishment is handed out," ICC Chief Executive http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Haroon-Lorgat-c61719 said. "We will not tolerate corruption in this great game.
"The integrity of the game is of paramount importance. Prompt and decisive action will be taken against those who seek to harm it. However, the facts must first be established through a thorough investigation and it is important to respect the right of due process when addressing serious allegations of this sort."
The ICC Chief added that at this juncture they were closely monitoring all developments in the matter, and would wait for a final outcome on the investigations being carried out by the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Scotland-c756 Yard.
"Currently, senior ACSU investigators are in the United Kingdom conducting enquiries into the allegations directed at some Pakistan players during the recently concluded Test against England at Lord's," Lorgat said. "That investigation has the full support and co-operation of the ECB and PCB. In addition, ACSU officials are assisting London's Metropolitan Police with their criminal investigation.
"All allegations of betting irregularities or fixing of matches or incidents within matches are investigated thoroughly by the ICC's internationally respected Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) and this case is no different."
While the Pakistan Cricket Board insists on playing the series, many cricket experts and former players feel that the series is set to be overshadowed by the controversy, and whatever action takes place on the field is set to be taken over by the developments off it; hence the series should either be postponed until the completion of investigations or called-off.
Former http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 captain Rameez Raja has called for the suspension of the four accused players. The former Test opener, who is currently in England as a commentator for the series, added that the host country and its team were not too keen on hosting Pakistan in the ODI and Twenty20 series unless some action is taken by the PCB against the accused players.
He added that the PCB should either suspend them or sideline them from the series to restore some degree of credibility for Pakistan’s game.
Meanwhile, fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar and opening batsman Mohammad Hafeez have joined the team for the limited overs series, while seven players who were part of the Test team in England are set to return to Pakistan, as they are not part of the second leg of the tour.
The fans of the gentlemen’s game await the result of one of the most damning scandal in more than 100 years of the sport. Let us all hope that the culprits are taken to task and the issue of match-fixing is buried once and for all.
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