Cricket
- Thread starter EdWeatherall
- Start date
It doesn't seem to be a minority at all. The whole system seems to be corrupt from head to toe and a huge chunk of players seem well mingled in the mess. I think a short ban with ICC taking an interim control of their cricket and cleaning it up would do them lots of good.
Sadly it won't happen and Pakistani cricket may get better on the pitch, but my guess is it will always be marred off it.
PCB are tainted no doubt.
I still reckon there is something not quite right about Haider's story. We'll just have to wait and see until the truth comes out. At the moment Haider is being hailed a hero due to PCB's reputation.
Last time Pakistan put a foreigner in charge of it's coaching he got murdered.
There is also the criminal angle to consider.
What if the cricketers are forced and have no choice in some of their actions due to fears from the mafias? Haider is claiming exactly this sort of provocation.
What if the cricketers are forced and have no choice in some of their actions due to fears from the mafias? Haider is claiming exactly this sort of provocation.
Is it now?
Well, its not proven. Its just that circumstances surrounding the event say otherwise.
Fair point.
Agreed.
I was all for a total Pakistani ban as I've conspired that they've been fixing matches since at least Wasim Akram's days. Blatantly at times. But surely after earning so much, you start to think of your country?
I'm sure players have, and subsequently been threatened. So my stance has softened. Maybe ICC and interpol can do something to stamp out this aggression? Maybe Haider's the key. Very tough to do though.
It is tough. But it requires a tough authority to handle, which the ICCI clearly aren't. I still don't have any sympathy with any cheats in the game. This one statement from one guy doesn't absolve all the others of blame.
I just read that some PCB official (I think) said something like Haider has brought shame to the nation and that they won't support him. I mean seriously, what the feck is up with the people who run Pakistani cricket. Complete denial.
It's not just the people who run the PCB who are in denial/corrupt, the whole fecking government is.
This has become a farce, I bet there will be some sort of allegations when the world cup starts.
I'm not sure how it can be sorted it out. A ban? that'll just deprive the nation of cricket, which may kill the game in Pakistan for good...and it's not as if the cricket world can afford to lose a talented cricketing nation. I don't know...may be something should be put in place to stop kids from being sucked in, more lucrative contracts perhaps? sadly once they're caught in the web, they can't get loose. And that seems to be the issue. I don't think match fixing and betting syndicates will be driven out of the game, to me it's seems as if corruption's rife in the higher echelons. The PCB must be corrupt...and it wouldn't surprise me if the ICC is too to a certain extent and all.
Im surprised this somehow hasn't been blamed on India yet.
Does anyone know the salary structure and figures for PCB central contracted players?
Had no idea Akram was that deeply involved.. just read about it fully.
Salary structure.. Read on cricinfo that grade A players get paid 30 lakhs per annum. Indian Grade A players get paid 80 lakhs per annum. Cricinfo mentioned yesterday that Haider's, as a fringe player, is on 50,000 per month.
Salary structure.. Read on cricinfo that grade A players get paid 30 lakhs per annum. Indian Grade A players get paid 80 lakhs per annum. Cricinfo mentioned yesterday that Haider's, as a fringe player, is on 50,000 per month.
Oh I know they are too, but I don't want to make this thread about that.
Spoony, I don't think it would lead to the death of Pakistani cricket. Like all the sub continent nations there's too much love for the game there. And to be fair the Pakistan team has gone months and months before without playing because of teams too scared to play there. So why not a little while off (if that sounds better), ICCI goes in, restructures the PCB completely, gives them a plan and puts some of their guys their to help PCB grow again but with a watchful presence around and a helping hand.
Steps like these sound far fetched but they aren't. It's fairly simple if handled properly. And moreover it sends out a HUGE message to all aspiring Pakistani cricketers and fans that:
a) Things are changing.
b) There will be zero tolerance and that there is a board that is not going to take cheats lightly.
c) That the system is being cleansed and players will be treated better.
IMO the message that you give out is in fact half the battle really. The reason why this kid didn't take the bait is because he just saw two of his team mates suspended.
This is like a footballer's salary isn't it?. One player in a richer club (BCCI) gets heavy dough while another in a poorer club (PCB) gets a lesser amount. NZC is another poor pay master from what i read, yet i don't see them involved in fixing, or at least haven't read reports of that.
50k per month isn't top dollar, accepted. But it should be sufficient to move the family on in a middle class level till the lad gets a lucrative contract either with the PCB or with one of the counties in england.
You can't compare India with Pakistan can you?. We might have the most corrupt, selfish, arrogant self centered people ever to rule a sports body, but they do know how to make money and how to use that money to pull more money. PCB is everything the BCCI is without the obvious talent to pull in the money. Which is basically shit. A corrupt person will be corrupt no matter how much you pay him, the money issue is just being used as a reason.
I think the money problem arises in domestic cricket. I posted an article earlier in this thread where there were allegations of spot-fixing in a domestic match. If a fringe player is on 50,000/month, and Haider after having played a few matches is considered 'fringe', then I imagine there's no proper wage structure in place for the domestic players who have no chance of playing for the country -- which is unlike here in India, where the domestic players get paid a fair amount(at least starting from the recent past).
I imagine it's easy to entice those domestic players to throw matches, ergo, the players get caught up in this mess very early and this habit carries on to the national level when they get their call-ups.
After reading the stuff that's come out in the past few days, I don't think anyone will be surprised if it's found out that Amir, Butt, et al have been throwing matches from when they made their domestic starts. There was all the furore over Amir because he's a 'young lad caught up in this shitstorm', maybe Amir is not so innocent after all.
NZ showing a lot of pride here...
I gave them no chance in this series, yet they drew the 1st match comfortably, indeed India needed Laxman and Harbhajan to show something special to save them on day 4/5.
They've continued that in the 2nd test...still early of course, Australia lost despite scoring runs against India, but still well done to them. As for India, an issue with motivation? After all Australia was the big one..and South Africa in a month is another real test...NZ not so much.
I gave them no chance in this series, yet they drew the 1st match comfortably, indeed India needed Laxman and Harbhajan to show something special to save them on day 4/5.
They've continued that in the 2nd test...still early of course, Australia lost despite scoring runs against India, but still well done to them. As for India, an issue with motivation? After all Australia was the big one..and South Africa in a month is another real test...NZ not so much.
Possibly. I don't think our bowling is that all that special to be honest. Then again you can say that about every team around.
South Africa off to a great start against Pak, 281/2. Smith hitting a century and Amla and Kallis well placed. Pakistan have Adnan Akmal playing, guess it's 3rd time lucky with the Akmal's?
The problem's the pitches. First test was played on the worst(for sporting reasons) one I've seen in recent times -- and that's saying something. This one again looks to be a good batting track at the moment. It depends on how it breaks up from now on..
NZ are batting pretty well, though. Kane Williamson looks a good prospect. I've always rated Jesse Ryder.
What the feck is dhoni doing?
Another poor shot by him
Another poor shot by him
Zaheer Khan 41 wickets at an average of 22 this year.. second highest wicket taker for 2010.
Swann has 51 wickets from 10 matches, 2 more than Zaheer.
Seriously under-rated.
Swann has 51 wickets from 10 matches, 2 more than Zaheer.
Seriously under-rated.
I was going to start a thread on this. If he continues this form against the Saffers, I'd be tempted to say he's among the best pacers of the last decade and the best left armer since Akram(although this might already be the case). Really makes the ball talk nowadays.
All 8 matches this year on sub-continental pitches. He's the most important player in the Indian side.
Vaas
ahhh yes...good spot.
I completely forgot about him.
Vaas
Tests: 111
Wickets: 355
Average: 29.58
Khan
Tests: 75
Wickets: 257
Average: 32.38
Zaheer probably has 2 more years left, 20 tests? 100 wickets? Probably not....But will get close. Zaheer does have the vastly superior Strike Rate at this point.
Zaheer's got a better record than I thought, as zing said he is a very under-rated player.
I think whenever it was that Zaheer had that county stint, it completely changed him as a bowler/cricketer.
A lot more professional, smarter, and fitter...much more rounded cricketer. I might be generalizing here, don't watch India all the time, but that was the impression I got.
A lot more professional, smarter, and fitter...much more rounded cricketer. I might be generalizing here, don't watch India all the time, but that was the impression I got.
I wish a few of our younger players could have some county stints. The likes of Pujara, Rohit, Raina could learn a lot from it.
ha_rooney, which country are you from? I got the impression that you support Pakistan and live in England..
ha_rooney, which country are you from? I got the impression that you support Pakistan and live in England..
You're right my friend, born in England, but really have to support Pakistan in cricket (although their behaviour/performances the past 12-18 months has been disgusting)
Holy Crap ... Harbhajan with back to back centuries. The only no. 8 in history to do so. Who would have thunk it eh? His batting's come a long way of late.
Unbelievable considering he doesnt even have one first class century to his name.
We might finally have an all-rounder on our hands. Now if he'd just learn to bowl a bit..
Great to see Amla performing so consistently. Another hundred notched up. He's our next Kallis. Jacques himself is a great. Only third behind Tendulkar and Ponting in terms of hundreds (36) and half of them have been on away tours. Impressive.
Amla's incredible. Best batsman of the newer generation.
The final ODI against Pakistan, he made a 60 that was built on sheer class stroke making.
The final ODI against Pakistan, he made a 60 that was built on sheer class stroke making.
He's absolute class. It is such a joy to watch him bat. Textbook class.