A strange 'carry over" from this affair.
Pakistan are currently in Dubai playing South Africa.

Pakistan keeper Haider bound for UK after missing scare

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11709082
It seems the keeper had received a threatening message after the helping Pakistan level the series 2-2. Apparently that was not the result wanted..

Yep , he has done a runner, faster than any fieldsmen in that match.

The books were cooked for the match despite all the attention, and he copped a blast from a a seedy character, which he will later deny ever contacted him.

Placing the discussion on his Facebook for the world to read was clever also ! I wonder if the ICC have added him as a friend LOL

Time is ticking away for these guys, the ICC are just trying to work out a sub continent solution, with the problem already well and truly known.

And today the World Cricket ruling body says this...

ICC 'impressed' with PCB measures to protect integrity

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket ... 164937.stm
You really have to wonder which planet they are on....

PCB chairman Ijaz Butt commented: "The PCB is determined to implement the recommendations provided by the ICC. We at the PCB, like the ICC, are committed to a zero-tolerance approach to any form of corruption."

Meanwhile, Pakistan's team manager Intikhab Alam has said three players have been fined for breaking curfew during the team's series against South Africa in the United Arab Emirates.

Alam stated opener Shahzaib Hasan, spinner Abdul Rehman and wicket-keeper Zulqarnain Haider were fined 500 dirhams (£85) for staying out late in Abu Dhabi where the series began in October.

It is still OK to accept a bung to lose, fluff the outcome & have to make a runner to the UK for safety, but stay out late & the wrath of the PCB will fall on you!!

The 2nd biggest voting block in the ICC, these corrupt mob are.

As i said before, it was always going to be a Sub continent solution, - Let them solve the issue internally .

CRAP

My faith has been lost 100% now, they had the chance and dropped it/

All this cheating and match fixing stuff reeks of curry too me , I reckon Waza is about right the ICC etc know whats gone/going on with the the slippery Pakkistani buggars but they dont know what to do to , mr mash solution - Pakistan v Pakistan one day match and instead of a cricket ball use a live hand grenade .

Mr Mash

That would fragment the game.

U wouldnt get a game like that together, the side is divided now, into 2 sections

1/ -Those who got caught, inc players who are doing runners !

2/- Those who didnt get caught , and were a little more clever with their money laundering and daily match payments which they had to carry around in cash for 18 months !

World Cricket Committee: Statements

http://www.lords.org/latest-news/news-a ... NS.html%29

Just released a statement about what they are going to do about corruption in the game...mainly 'ideas' except a committee has been set up to investigate possibilities..

led by Steve Waugh and including Courtney Walsh, Keith Bradshaw and Barry Richards

Certainly ex-player dominated & well respected players as well.
Some of the ideas discussed were

* the legalising and regulating of betting markets in India as proposed by the Delhi Court;
* the length of bans;
* non-selection of tainted players;
* the possible use of lie detector tests;
* the provision of integrity officers; and
* the inclusion of anti-corruption clauses in all professional playing contracts in all countries.

but no recommendations as yet.

Television replays should not be used for low catches

The MCC World Cricket Committee believes that current technology used by third umpires does not provide definitive proof of low catches, and recommends that the on-field umpires must be asked to make an initial decision based on the naked eye. In games utilising the Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS), if the batsman or fielding captain wishes to review the decision, he may do so at this point provided that he still has a review in hand.

In assessing whether or not the ball carried, the third umpire should uphold the original decision unless there is overwhelming proof that the decision was incorrect.

I think that is good, the umpire makes the decision, if they do not like it, object, if it is obviously a bad decision then reverse it.

Well part of this affair is near a conclusion as the ICC anti-corruption tribunal has begun what will be a 6 day 'trial' into the actions of the 3 accused players in Doha.
This is a well written BBC blog into who is charged with what & how firm the evidence is.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/davidbond/20 ... _line.html

The case against the 3 would seem to be just about as caste iron as any could possibly be. As the writer points out the interest lies around how the 3 are actually going to defend themselves. They all seem to have sensibly backed away from the idea that the News of the World 'evidence' was some how untrue & will either simply deny they were involved or blame one another.
What the result will be is the real crux of the matter though. I think few involved in the game feel that these 3 are the only culprits, either within the Pakistani team or maybe even within cricket in the sub-continent. Although, in the case of India, it is probably restricted to the domestic game rather than the international squad.

Well the wheels of justice grind exceedingly slow..but they do appear to grind.

Pakistan cricket trio face corruption charges

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12365517

Three Pakistan cricket team members and an agent will face corruption charges, the Crown Prosecution Service has said.

After taking this long it was a real pity that they could not wait for just a couple more days as the

The International Cricket Council (ICC), which conducted its own investigation as the sport's governing body, is due to present its findings on Saturday.

Lawyers for the trio are now trying to stop the release of the findings of that report as it might be 'prejudicial' to any criminal trial.
I, for one, was very interested in what the ICC would have had to report as I would see that as an indication of the sort of stand they were willing to take against this sort of thing in the sport...

As the ICC is headquartered in Dubai, and presumably the report will be released there, I am struggling to understand how lawyers in the UK will be able to suppress it.

These are the same lawyers that have represented the 3 Pakistani players all the way through the ICC deliberations Jack. I do not know where they are based (but obviously have been in Dubai for the tribunal meetings) & it is not even certain that they will represent these players in an English court - indeed that will probably be a barrister (or 3).

Justified and proportionate in my view.

Yes, in general I would say a suitable punishment.
Perhaps a little harsh (the 5 years, staying as 5) on Amir who is a very young man who needed direction from the likes of ex captain Salman Butt, rather than to be drawn into this sort of situation.
Seems little doubt that the panel found the evidence supplied by the News of the World compelling.
It should also be a fair indication that the 3 should try & strike up some sort of deal with the CPS (if that is possible, & I hope it is) rather than go to the stupid expense of a lengthy trial..

This case is also the test for any future cases and the ICC neded to stamp some sort of authority on what we all knew was a bent Paki side.

5 years isnt harsh, they have basically stopped them from returning to compitative cricket and they will hurt their back pockets.

The UK trial is a criminal issue and has major consequences if found gulity, they are looking at a stretch ?

If found guilty they wont be able to get visa's even of the 5 years is up - good

I wonder where the "Bookie "is now, funding the silks ? or droped them like a hot potato.

Well the trial date has been fixed - 20th. May.

In answer to your question wazza they are charged with...

The players are accused of cheating and conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments

Accepting corrupt payments is an offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906 and carries a maximum sentence of seven years imprisonment and an unlimited fine.

Cheating is an offence under the Gambling Act 2005 and carries a maximum sentence of two years imprisonment and an unlimited fine.

Well they have had their day in court & have all now been found well & truly guilty...

Pakistan cricketers guilty of betting scam

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15538516
It will be interesting to see exactly what sentences they all receive...

How Pakistan cricket betting scam unfolded

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15160226

Some interesting reactions from Pakistan..

'Sordid' scandal in Pakistan's beloved cricket

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15540581

I particularly liked...

The West just wants to destroy the image of Pakistan
I think the Indians are involved too. We need to get to the real truth

Thankfully the majority in the country seem to see it as it is... A disgraceful episode that is probably pretty endemic in the sub continents' sporting world....

- Dicky Bird

- Pakistani media

- Pakistani cricketers

- Pakistani Crick Board

- Non sub continent teams

- ICC Board

- Bob

Well they didn't act lightly with the sentencing.

Salman Butt and Pakistan bowlers jailed for betting scam

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15573463

Personally I think that the sentences are more than a little harsh..

Salman Butt has been jailed for 30 months

Well, maybe fair for the captain to take the brunt of the blame, but over 2 years!!!

Mohammad Asif, 28, was jailed for one year

OK an adult & he should have know better & while it is fair to say that 'just following orders' is never an excuse (well the victors always say that anyway..) look what happens to soldiers who disobey orders!!

Mohammad Amir, 19, has been sentenced to six months.

19 years old, first time outside his own country, & he admitted the offence....trifle harsh maybe...

Cricket agent Mazhar Majeed was jailed for two years and eight months.

Should have added Amirs' & Asifs' sentence to that & then doubled it.....

Its involved millons that we know of on this incident, so how many more in on it.

The dropped catches in Oz, was certainly a match of concern.

They deserve it so do the time etc....