Should Pakistan call off its tainted tour of England?
For starters, we should look at the performances of pacers, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif. Nobody in cricket has bowled like the duo of Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir in the last couple of months. Fans always want to have a fair contest between bat and ball and these two have provided just that. Nothing is worth more than watching a partnership of fast bowlers making the ball talk, and, batsman hop like bunny rabbits. They have provided endless entertainment for cricket fans on the field. There was even talk of them being the best bowling combination in cricket these days.
Their current good form makes spot fixing allegations against them even more tragic. Pakistani fans and cricketing fans around the world feel they have been betrayed to say the least.
We cannot make judgements about the betting scandal, until anything is proven.
The Test series between England and Pakistan was intriguing and provided spectators with many thrilling moments. But the delights vanished when allegations of spot fixing came about. The last session of the series at Lord’s was a disappointing one, as everyone was going through the motions of completing the match. Unfortunately, the record breaking English comeback was overshadowed by controversies off the cricket field.
Mohammad Amir has been a teenage sensation. What will be going through his mind? Or what will be going through Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt’s minds.
Mohammad Amir has been the spearhead of the attack. No one has shown more promise than Mohammad Amir in recent times. He recently became the youngest bowler to take 5 wickets at Lord’s. Now questions about his future are being asked. Will Mohammad Amir bowl another ball in cricket? Has cricket lost another genius, this time so early?
Pakistan Cricket Board has been heavily criticised in recent times and Chairman http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755’s cricket future. If they do not take action that is perceived to be fair and honest, then there is a threat that Pakistani fans and fans around the world, will lose interest in cricket.
This is not the first time that Pakistani cricketers have been accused of match fixing. It has been happening for the last 15 years. Justice Qayyum’s report was one of the key indicators of match fixing. Qayyum has blamed the PCB for not taking action against players for this heinous crime. Players have escaped big punishments due to poor decision making from the administrators. Players have been putting their personal interests before national team interests and getting away with it scot free. This sends a dangerous message to future cricketers.
PCB’s Patron in Chief, President Asif Zardari needs to reassess the current set up if the board fails to deliver again. There is no doubting the urgent need for reform in Pakistani cricket’s infrastructure and management.
PCB should call off this tour and focus on finding solutions to problems plaguing Pakistani cricket. There have been speculations that the first two ODI matches have been fixed and who knows where these allegations will end?
Pakistan’s cricketers cannot be expected to perform to the best of their abilities with serious allegations and accusations hanging over their heads. Not to mention the fans around the world. If they believe cricket matches are fixed they might stop watching.
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