This saga reminds me of the eastern bloc countries of the 70"s with their drug taking, and drug masking that occured, together with the Chinese swimming team that got caught in Perth , Australia years ago, with the drugs in the care of the support staff., the Tour De France , the 5 rings every 4 years. and the list goes on.

We all knew it took place, but the Ostrich syndrome by the senior levels of the sporting bodies failed to do anying about it.

I see that further arrests for money laundering have now been made with the key fixer and associates over the last 24 hrs.

The ICC have had these guys under surveilance for months now, after the Australian players reported them last summer ( Lee , Johnson )

If the ICC dont suspend them, as a country as well as the individuals, then the entire game becomes a farce.

You really have to chuckle at the integrity of the Pakistani Cricket Board.

This is the form (to date) of one of those in the thick of the allegations, Mohammad Asif:

In 2006, there was a cricket controversy involving Asif, after he tested positive for anabolic steroid, Nandrolone, before having a ban imposed on him overturned on appeal. He was later withdrawn from Pakistan's World Cup squad with an unrelated injury. Further cricket controversy followed when he was detained in Dubai suspected of having drugs on his person and was then found to have tested positive for a banned substance during the Indian Premier League. In August 2010 he was accused by the News of the World of deliberately bowling no-balls in return for payment from a betting syndicates.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammad_Asif

And yet they have kept on selecting him.

Interesting Pakistani journalists' view of the situation (courtesy of the BBC).
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11135417

Just read the article Bob, Interesting indeed. These players dont even care what their fellow countrymen think of them.....Pretty Shocking and pretty shocking that bans are overturned etc etc etc. I know if I I belonged to a cricketing nation that Id protest at even agreeing to play them, whats the point?

I find the following article very funny.....saying that the News of the World made that tape after the incident

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket ... 964408.stm

come on pakistan stop taking the piss.the world knows you have been at it for yrs.why would the money be on the table for the world to see.1no ball ok but 3. no case to answer. high commisioner your as bent as them

Malc, Counldnt agree more. I watch him on Sky News defending the 3 players to the hilt. Then I just read the latest story

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket ... 953417.stm

Latest news.

Somerset beat Pakistan by 5 wickets tomorrow.

Well I know innocent until found guilty, but it is not looking good for the 3 of them..

About £4,000 in cash, which had been paid to an agent as part of a newspaper sting operation, was found in the rooms of three Pakistan players suspected of spot-fixing in last week's Lord's Test, the BBC understands.

The cash was recovered after the hotel rooms of captain Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were searched by officers from the Metropolitan Police's Economic and Specialist Crime Unit.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11190583

And, just to make matters worse, a 4th. Pakistani player is now being investigated for match fixing.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/8969656.stm

Without wishing to sit on the fence these 3 or 4 cheating slippery ragheed buggars should be banned for life and the Pakistan national side throwed out of world cricket for lets say a 5 years..........its making me wonder if this spot betting has gone on in other ports maybe betting on if theres a penalty between the 80-90th minute with the bent player pole axing an apposing player in a football match or a player being sent off ......... etc. maybe not in the top flight but lower divisions where the likes of Grimsby and Sheffield Wednesday play !!

Amazing how a game like Cricket can end up with a Reputation like Boxing and Horse Racing

Couple of comments having read the BBC news items quoted over the last 48 hrs.

The individual bank notes with documented serial numbers handed over to the " fixer" have been found in the hands of the 3 players . Thats pretty damming evidence. The high commisioners reply to that - The Pakistan Cricket Council pay their players a 114 GBP per day allowance in cash . ( Does the Pakistani tax department know that ) and maybe thats confusing the issue. so duplicated currency notes means they were paid in counterfeit currency then ? LOL

Comments by some Pakistani commentators that the team has been on tour for nearly 18th months and many dont have bank acounts and carry cash, Ummmmmm did they declare that cash when entering Australia and England , as both countries have currency laws for importation of cash in the sums they are talking about.

The Public Prosecutor when looking at any case, asks the following, would it be reasonable that the accused be found guilty with the evidence presented. I bet ( no pun included ) that these bank notes also had silver nitrate with a suitable DNA trace also on them and the Police Forsensics have also nailed this.

One thing is for sure, their cricketers wont be subject to any ICC random drug tests this year, as you cant take the piss out of the Pakistani's anymore.

Howszat !

Well it seems that Sky Channel Pakistan has scopped the world for the next years 20/20 series

They will post yesterdays , current days and tomorrows scores all on line 24/7 for all to see.

Aardvark wrote:Amazing how a game like Cricket can end up with a Reputation like Boxing and Horse Racing

it,s not the game ,,
it is the slippery slimy paki b-------s
the most untrustworthy people, i have had the mis fortune to meet .

p.s. you can tell when a paki is lying ,
his lips move.

well look at higgins at snooker.found not guilty of match fixing. but was fined 75 grand baned till nov.if he is not guilty why the fine and ban.i think there is some covering up big time.

The fine and ban was oficially for bring the game into disrepute i.e. he never reported being asked to cheat! You hav eto ask yourself why he didnt report it!

hangsaboot wrote:

Aardvark wrote:Amazing how a game like Cricket can end up with a Reputation like Boxing and Horse Racing

it,s not the game ,,
it is the slippery slimy paki b-------s
the most untrustworthy people, i have had the mis fortune to meet .

p.s. you can tell when a paki is lying ,
his lips move.

A tadge racist but couldnt agree more , im not on the fence on this one these buggars are as guilty as hell and should get the full punishment , death by stoning would suit this heanus crime But the ragheeds throwing would be paid to throw wides or no balls.

how do you stop a pakki from drowning - take your foot off his head !!

MALC wrote:well look at higgins at snooker.found not guilty of match fixing. but was fined 75 grand baned till nov.if he is not guilty why the fine and ban.i think there is some covering up big time.

point taken MALC ,
bttopic,,,,, higgins was a paddy , not a paki .
p.s. no racist slur, intended.

I think you will find Higgins is British not Irish! No offense taken, imperialist scum, lol!