No, they aren't.
Cricket
- Thread starter EdWeatherall
- Start date
No, they aren't.
I'm not sure about the first test in SA, but I think we'll give a good showing other than that. I fancy us to win in England. Australia's tough to predict, it's too far away and we might not have all Dravid, Sachin, Laxman around by then.
A draw.. wouldn't want to declare considering the nature of the pitch.
That's got to be one of the shittest decisions ever..
Looks like another inside edge..
on a hat-trick of shit decisions
on a hat-trick of shit decisions
you don't understand Zing, this is Steve Davis trying to make a case for UDRS...hehehe
Harbhajan is a legend. Saved us big time 
The amount of times, VVS has saved/won a test match for India with crucial 2nd innings batting performances is amazing. It would be really interesting to see how many of the greats of circket compare to him when it comes to 2nd innings averages specially considerign he bats more often than not with the tailenders..
Pakistan wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider has reportedly gone missing and did not arrive with the team at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium for the deciding ODI against South Africa.
PCB officials refused to comment on the matter or talk about the reasons for his non-arrival. But a cryptic message left as a status update on the player's Facebook page said: "leaving pakistan cricket because get bad msg fr 1 man fr lose the match in last game." A TV reporter for Geo, a leading Pakistani news channel, said that he had received a similar text message from Zulqarnain earlier on Monday.
PCB officials refused to comment on the matter or talk about the reasons for his non-arrival. But a cryptic message left as a status update on the player's Facebook page said: "leaving pakistan cricket because get bad msg fr 1 man fr lose the match in last game." A TV reporter for Geo, a leading Pakistani news channel, said that he had received a similar text message from Zulqarnain earlier on Monday.
Pakistan Cricket...seriously WTF
This is quite incredible. Match in 30 minutes.. 3 changes with Umar Akmal to keep.
A TV reporter for Geo said that he had received a similar text message from Haider earlier on Monday and also an indication that he might fly to the UK. It is not clear whether Haider has left the UAE because, generally, the passports of players are kept with management officials.
If someone in the Pakistani team wrote an autobiography, there'll be millions queuing up to buy it.
If someone in the Pakistani team wrote an autobiography, there'll be millions queuing up to buy it.
"He's resting, we're still trying to find him," says Afridi. "Security is trying to trace him."
Pakistan..don't know whether to laugh or cry.
Raza Haider, Zulqarnain's brother, said the wicketkeeper had reportedly received threats. "I spoke to Zulqarnain after the fourth ODI and he told me he had received some kind of threats after that game, but he gave no details," Raza said.
Wtf is going on with Pak cricket? Pakistan should be banned from all cricket until a thorough investigation has been completed by the ICC, but the ICC themselves don't seem to want get involved in the matter. It's become a farce now.
Wtf is going on with Pak cricket? Pakistan should be banned from all cricket until a thorough investigation has been completed by the ICC, but the ICC themselves don't seem to want get involved in the matter. It's become a farce now.
SSN saying he has turned up at Heathrow.
Now I'm no expert, but if he doesn't have a visa or British passport, won't he be sent back to Pakistan, which is the last place he apparently wants to be??
Now I'm no expert, but if he doesn't have a visa or British passport, won't he be sent back to Pakistan, which is the last place he apparently wants to be??
He's apparently in the UK on a one-month visa, atm.
Reports say he might seek asylum in the UK. Just when you thought you'd seen everything in Pakistani cricket...
Reports say he might seek asylum in the UK. Just when you thought you'd seen everything in Pakistani cricket...
The very first thought in my mind after hearing he had disappeared would be applying for asylum. Just too obvious.
The question is do UK give asylum for political persecution or threats from criminals?
There are procedures to apply for asylum at the airport. There's something not quite right with Haiders story.
"The fourth ODI, the things I was told to do I didn't, and the fifth ODI, what they wanted done I didn't do," Haider said. "That is why I did what seemed right to me and I came here. I can't tell what kind of threats I received to the country because my family is still in Pakistan."
When asked further about the nature of these threats and who they might have come from, Haider was unwilling and unable to reveal much more. "I am not accusing anyone of being a match-fixer. I only got one guy telling me that if you can't do this or that, there will be problems, or fix the fourth of fifth ODI. I don't want to say who it is, neither do I know so much about who it is. I have only played two-three ODIs." Asked specifically if he thought players within the team were involved, he said, "I am not saying they are or are not. Only God knows that. But I did what I thought was better for everyone. I just didn't want to sell my country, my mother. The country is like your mother and if you sell that you are nothing."
Haider also confirmed that he took his passport from the team management on the pretext of buying a SIM card for his mobile and left on Monday morning. Questions have been raised by a number of former players and board officials themselves about why he didn't approach the board first to report the threats, as is required by the anti-corruption code of conduct. "I felt if I told them, it would get worse for me and my family so I thought to come here. I know about British rules as I have been coming here for the last nine to ten years. They protect you."
Though he didn't confirm that he had sought asylum in the UK, he did strongly indicate that he was seeking some form of protective status. "I cannot say where I am. I am not in a detention centre. Immigration authorities helped me a lot. The British government is such that if you are on the right path, they will protect you. They have rules [as far as asylum is concerned] and you can't enter until you have given reasons why. Immigration asked me what I would do. According to the rules they said go like this but hire a government lawyer. I don't have money right now to hire a private one but if this is the cost of walking on the right path, then so be it, I will bear it."
As the interview went on, Haider became emotional, ending it with a plea that his family - currently in Lahore - be helped and protected. "Help my family somehow. If it can be done, send my family here. For their security. I have my daily wages from the South Africa series and that is it. I will communicate with someone to see if they can help me financially."
When asked further about the nature of these threats and who they might have come from, Haider was unwilling and unable to reveal much more. "I am not accusing anyone of being a match-fixer. I only got one guy telling me that if you can't do this or that, there will be problems, or fix the fourth of fifth ODI. I don't want to say who it is, neither do I know so much about who it is. I have only played two-three ODIs." Asked specifically if he thought players within the team were involved, he said, "I am not saying they are or are not. Only God knows that. But I did what I thought was better for everyone. I just didn't want to sell my country, my mother. The country is like your mother and if you sell that you are nothing."
Haider also confirmed that he took his passport from the team management on the pretext of buying a SIM card for his mobile and left on Monday morning. Questions have been raised by a number of former players and board officials themselves about why he didn't approach the board first to report the threats, as is required by the anti-corruption code of conduct. "I felt if I told them, it would get worse for me and my family so I thought to come here. I know about British rules as I have been coming here for the last nine to ten years. They protect you."
Though he didn't confirm that he had sought asylum in the UK, he did strongly indicate that he was seeking some form of protective status. "I cannot say where I am. I am not in a detention centre. Immigration authorities helped me a lot. The British government is such that if you are on the right path, they will protect you. They have rules [as far as asylum is concerned] and you can't enter until you have given reasons why. Immigration asked me what I would do. According to the rules they said go like this but hire a government lawyer. I don't have money right now to hire a private one but if this is the cost of walking on the right path, then so be it, I will bear it."
As the interview went on, Haider became emotional, ending it with a plea that his family - currently in Lahore - be helped and protected. "Help my family somehow. If it can be done, send my family here. For their security. I have my daily wages from the South Africa series and that is it. I will communicate with someone to see if they can help me financially."
This just doesn't make sense...
If this was some John Doe off the streets you could understand them making up stories to try and get asylum in the UK. But this is a international cricket player, a young one at that, with a bright future, and who was in the Pakistan team ahead of Ratmal...
Pakistani cricketers and young rookies at that obviously aren't paid millions of dollars...but he has a very stable and lucrative future ahead of him...so making up a story to get asylum doesn't quite make sense, but something is off about his version of the story too...
If this was some John Doe off the streets you could understand them making up stories to try and get asylum in the UK. But this is a international cricket player, a young one at that, with a bright future, and who was in the Pakistan team ahead of Ratmal...
Pakistani cricketers and young rookies at that obviously aren't paid millions of dollars...but he has a very stable and lucrative future ahead of him...so making up a story to get asylum doesn't quite make sense, but something is off about his version of the story too...
Haider announces retirement.
I feel sorry for the guy. I honestly think the only way this can be fixed is by banning Pakistan from world cricket. Seems like everyone's involved in this mess. What is the point of having matches if everything's decided? It's making fools out of the viewers and the opposition.
I feel sorry for the guy. I honestly think the only way this can be fixed is by banning Pakistan from world cricket. Seems like everyone's involved in this mess. What is the point of having matches if everything's decided? It's making fools out of the viewers and the opposition.
I just read up about this chap. Really sad if true. Pakistan cricket is an absolute mess. And I'm not sure I agree, Zing, but for the good of the game and their own cricket, it could be a decent option. They have a lot to sort out and the ICC could take a lead into doing so.
The ICC has got to be one of the weakest, most useless governing bodies in sport governance. All they do is bow down to the BCCI every little while. They don't 'sort' much out when require at all.
The ICC has got to be one of the weakest, most useless governing bodies in sport governance. All they do is bow down to the BCCI every little while. They don't 'sort' much out when require at all.
It makes for some tragicomic reading, that.Seems as if he doesn't trust anyone. Who can blame him eh.
Ramiz Raja in a Telegraph article:
In 1994, I was on a tour to Sri Lanka when there was a lot of match-fixing going on and did not play a single match. That was because I was not in on the scheme. The manager, Inthikab Alam, told me so afterwards. He sent a report to the Pakistan Cricket Board but nothing happened. The board was frightened of dealing with the big names involved and because of that, match-fixing never died. The problem was not uprooted and we are seeing the results.
PCB could do well with appointing a few people like Imran Khan, Ramiz Raja, Wasim Akram.. we'll probably see this bit of news fade away and come back to Ijaz Butt and his ilk.
In 1994, I was on a tour to Sri Lanka when there was a lot of match-fixing going on and did not play a single match. That was because I was not in on the scheme. The manager, Inthikab Alam, told me so afterwards. He sent a report to the Pakistan Cricket Board but nothing happened. The board was frightened of dealing with the big names involved and because of that, match-fixing never died. The problem was not uprooted and we are seeing the results.
PCB could do well with appointing a few people like Imran Khan, Ramiz Raja, Wasim Akram.. we'll probably see this bit of news fade away and come back to Ijaz Butt and his ilk.
^Zing is that a recent article, got a link handy?
Like I said earlier, Pakistan needs to banned from all international cricket until it has been properly investigated by the ICC. But the ICC don't want to tackle the problem head-on and the problem will always be present until they change their attitude.
I feel bad for Haider, he's done something honest by not cheating, but it doesn't seem like he was offered the protection he should have been from the PCB.
I feel bad for Haider, he's done something honest by not cheating, but it doesn't seem like he was offered the protection he should have been from the PCB.
Nope, article written after the Amir/Asif/Butt thing..
Ramiz Raja: Pakistan's Mohammad Amir will pay the price for quick-fix mentality - Telegraph
I get the feeling that Riaz is involved in it whenever I see him playing, after those photos of him in the NOTW
He admitted not approaching PCB or the management to report the threats, as is required by the anti-corruption code of conduct.
How can banning Pakistan cricket be justified for the sake of a minority?
There must be other avenues to sort out the problem.
From Guardian blog:
"I also got threats in domestic cricket, says Haider" reports CricketNext.
CricketNext highlights a game last year:
"Haider was removed as the captain of the Lahore Eagles team in March last year just before a match against National Bank in a domestic one-day tournament that later became a talking point in the cricket community...
...the Lahore team first scored 122 in 40.3 overs...and then National Bank responded with 123 for no loss in only 6.1 overs.
Salman Butt, who is currently suspended by the ICC for his alleged role in the spot-fixing scandal in England in August, scored 92 from just 25 balls hitting an amazing 16 fours and four sixes at the LCCA ground...
...The talking point was that Lahore fielded a pace bowler by the name of Usman Sarwar who conceded 78 runs in three overs and that match remains his only game for Lahore to date" ...
Although there were media reports and questions raised over the legality of the match because of its inexplicable finish the Pakistan Cricket Board later said it had found no evidence of foul play in the match in which Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz also featured for the bankers.
"I also got threats in domestic cricket, says Haider" reports CricketNext.
CricketNext highlights a game last year:
"Haider was removed as the captain of the Lahore Eagles team in March last year just before a match against National Bank in a domestic one-day tournament that later became a talking point in the cricket community...
...the Lahore team first scored 122 in 40.3 overs...and then National Bank responded with 123 for no loss in only 6.1 overs.
Salman Butt, who is currently suspended by the ICC for his alleged role in the spot-fixing scandal in England in August, scored 92 from just 25 balls hitting an amazing 16 fours and four sixes at the LCCA ground...
...The talking point was that Lahore fielded a pace bowler by the name of Usman Sarwar who conceded 78 runs in three overs and that match remains his only game for Lahore to date" ...
Although there were media reports and questions raised over the legality of the match because of its inexplicable finish the Pakistan Cricket Board later said it had found no evidence of foul play in the match in which Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz also featured for the bankers.
BBC Sport - Cricket - Zulqarnain Haider mulls U-turn over Pakistan retirement
This guy is not right in the head.
This guy is not right in the head.
Clearly pakistan needs to be banned because pcb has been given ample opportunities and it has done feck all because it itself is involved.
Wasim Akram's involvement in the scandals of the 90s is well-acknowledged in Pakistani cricket circles, as it the subsequent cover-up which saw Ataur Rehman take the rap for it. Great bowler and unscrupulous cnut from all accounts.
Akram that is. Rehman was a fecking awful bowler.
I agree it is harsh to punish all of them for the sake of bringing a minority to justice, but it also has got to the point where the integrity of Pakistani cricket as a whole is questionable. The fact Haider has come out openly to say he was approached demonstrates the fiasco in the Summer was not an isolated incident and most likely fixing is still going on. Plus, who is to say that a player is not involved in fixing? At the moment, it's more likely a player is involved in match/spot fixing than not.
There probably are other avenues, but I think something has to be done and the PCB needs to be investigated. I would be suprised if the PCB does not know that its players are involved in fixing and until the body that represents Pakistani cricket is itself clean/innocent, you cannot expect the players to be honest individuals. The only way which the PCB will understand that these allegations are serious and cannot be condoned is if Pakistan is banned from cricket for a period of time until a thorough investigation is undertaken and all the wronged individuals (players, staff, PCB officials etc) are banned from cricket.
That said, the ICC does not seem at all bothered by these allegations and have been very slow to react, so you can hardly have a go at the PCB if the ICC doesn't seem to care itself.
Would you go to the PCB? they're the most corrupt national body in Cricket today.. he'd have been forced to keep his mouth shut.
Best thing is to ban Pakistan from the sport or if not, put foreigners in charge of their national board and the coaching staff. It'd clean up Pakistani cricket and take away the game from people who are clearly not fit to govern.
I feel sorry for this Haider kid, it also looks like the ICC.. will just probably pussy out as they usually do and not offer this kid the real support he needs and to bring the Pakistani National Cricketing Body truly to account.