Pakistan cricket has been allegedly involved in match-fixing and betting ever since the game became a profession in the county. Before the Kerry Packer series in the 70s, cricketers in Pakistan played for the passion and were paid meagre amounts for representing
their country. Some players were even employed elsewhere like Colonel Naushad Ali who was in the army, Waqar Hassan who went onto become a successful businessman and the extremely influential http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Javed-Burki-c66542, who played cricket because he had nothing else to do.
All this changed when Pakistan cricket became a brand. People started to follow the game more passionately, with female fans ogling Imran Khan and men trying to copy him on and off the field. Asif Iqbal, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohsin-c77587 Khan achieved
iconic status while http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 and Sarfaraz Nawaz was not picked because the skipper Asif Iqbal didn’t want him
in the side. Sarfaraz alleged that Asif Iqbal deliberately lost the toss and the series, and started a tsunami that has since been hitting Pakistan cricket at regular intervals.
First it was http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Wasim-Akram-c96292 didn’t play in the World Cup 1996 quarter final since he took money from bookies and so on and so forth. With spot-fixing allegations
coming from News of the World this summer, Pakistan has once again fallen prey to the demons of match-fixing. That is why Zulqarnain Haider should be taken seriously.
The wicket-keeper came into the side after Kamran Akmal’s poor performance routine cost http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 another match. Zulqarnain made his debut in the second match of the series against England and didn’t impress the critics, viewers and followers with his glove
work.
However, it was his batting delayed England’s victory proceedings and he instantly became a hero back home. During the course of his career-defining 88 in the match, he was hit on hand by Stuart Broad, which might have resulted in a bruise. Since former
captain Aamir Sohail believes the wicket-keeper doesn’t use the little-finger much, the hit could have been set aside. Yet surprisingly, Pakistan selectors decided to send Zulqarnain Haider back home. Kamran Akmal was back in the side and continued his sloppy
work behind the wicket, which resulted in his axing after the tour.
This might not prove that Zulqarnain is right but it does make one feel that there is something wrong with Pakistan cricket. The feeling turned into suspicion when former Test player and fielding coach Ijaz Ahmed was also axed after the depleted tour of England,
without any reason. Pakistan then replaced Yawar Saeed with Intikhab Alam as manager who had recently been removed as coach, adding credence to the 'all-is-not-well’ saga. Add current coach Waqar Younis to the story, who was named as a suspect in Justice Qayyum’s
report against match-fixing in 2000, and all doesn’t seem well at all.
Zulqarnain Haider may have erred in not confiding with the management regarding the approach by bookies, yet he couldn’t have told the management since they were shady characters themselves. He couldn’t have told the players since they would have been asked
by the ICC as to why they didn’t come forward and he couldn’t have told his helpless family in Pakistan either for the fear of losing them. He could have gone to the ICC but they would have asked the management for confirmation, and things would have been
back to square one.
The Pakistan wicket-keeper did the right thing by going to London where he would be safe for the time being. The sinister smile he gave the media when he was told that Adnan Akmal – brother of Kamran and Umar Akmal – will replace him, was enough to show that
he knows more than he is telling. He may be punished by ICC, PCB and others, but if his sacrifice can clean Pakistan cricket for good, he will be known as cricket’s first and perhaps the only martyr!
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