Sanctions on Pakistan cricket almost inevitable
on November 9th, 2010 at 7:22 amPakistan cricket today was hit by another match fixing scandal when their wicket keeper Zulqernain Haider went missing half an hour before the fifth and final Odi match between Pakistan and South Africa.
Zulqernain left a message on his face book page saying“Leaving Pakistan cricket because get bad msg fr 1 man fr lose the match in last game.”
Haider scored crucial 19 runs in the 4th Odi to help Pakistan win from a difficult situation, the message left by him on his face book account suggests that the betting mafia wasn’t happy with him as they lost a lot of money because Pakistan won the match when they were supposed to lose it.
The brief statements made by Haider after reaching London further suggest that he was given death threats to under perform in the fifth ODI. Haider also told the media that Pakistan was like his mother and he can’t sell it for money, he also told them that he has lived in starvation before in his life and live with it again.
The team management and PCB has remained tight lipped about the reasons due to which Zulqernain Haider escaped to London and through out the day they tried to decieve the media regarding the issue.
Just a few weeks ago after the Spot fixing scandal ICC gave PCB only a month to clean up their act or else Pakistan cricket will have to face sanctions. And just two days ago ICC’s top brass expressed their satisfaction with the progress PCB has made in curbing corruption.
ICC will have to re evaluate their assessment now as Pakistan cricket players are still being hunted by the betting mafia and if in the coming days any of Zulqernain’s statement proved a link between PCB’s administration and the betting mafia it will result in dire consequences for Pakistan cricket.
The mysterious circumstances under which Haider escaped to England and the lack of information regarding the source of the threats he received has left a lot of questions unanswered as a result all kinds of rumours and conspiracy theories are circulating.
1-Why did he chose to go to England? Why not Pakistan?
2-He is not a genuine match winner hence he is not important for the bookies. Why the threat wasn’t issued to Razzaq, Akhtar or any other star player.
3-Why the management handed him over his passport and copy of the visa and why did they lied to the press.
4-Why Haider had no confidence in the tour management team, and chose to escape secretly?
5-A day before the 5th match Intikhab Alam told a few reporters that the management was contemplating to play Umar Akmal as a wicket keeper to strengthen the batting, if Haider wasn’t in the plans their was no justification of any threats.
6- No 24 year old player runs away to another country because of a threatening email or SMS unless they identify the threatening party and the seriousness behind the threat.
If we analyze the above questions the situation becomes more confusing.
Haider is no average joe he is now a star in Pakistan it’s not easy for anybody to harm him unless he knew that he won’t get protection in Pakistan and chose to flee to another country and seek asylum there.
He wasn’t given his test cap during the Leeds test, he was sent back home declared injured when he told the media that he was fit to play. The management seems to be keen on playing Akmal regardless of his performance. The above facts clearly show that PCB administration has a strong favoritism for Akmal. Haider wouldn’t have been selected if Kamran Akmal was not under ICC’s investigation.
The senior players can already be on the books as at least three or four times in the series the job of winning the match was left for the tail enders after sudden collapses twice Pakistan team won their match. Wahab Riaz did his best to get Haider run out in the fourth ODi but Haider didn’t fell for it and won the match for Pakistan.
Riaz at least on three occasions during the series got out after scoring some quick runs, if Haider had sacrificed his wicket I know for sure Wahab wouldn’t have finished the match for Pakistan.
He was conscious of the the managements favoritism for Kamran Akmal and must not have any confidence in the management especially if he knew the source from where the threat originated. Or may be he didn’t escaped secretly at all and knew that he is being dropped unfairly for U Akmal and had a fight with the management and decided to move to England to get back at the management through English media.
The way Pakistan played some of the matches in this series clearly indicates some foul play by some senior players, Pakistan should have won the series but the extremely close loss in the third Odi costed them the serie ironically they fielded their best line up in the final match and suffered the worst defeat in the five match series their bowling has never looked so miserable the pattern was the same when they lose chasing big scores the opening partnership was good then a long collapse the lower middle order resisted but stopped short.
The star players who were kept out of the series were brought back and surprisingly Pakistan lost, PCB’s top management has been rigging with the team selection there is no doubt about that and it can be a strong possibility that some of the top managers are involved in corruption and have links with the betting mafia.
But if Haider chose to open his mouth and decided to blow the whistle then there is no chance that PCB will evade sanctions from ICC as they will become inevitable.
I am sure ICC’s ACSU will quiz him and it won’t be possible for him not to give proper answers. The truth will come out in a matter of few days.
Any comments?
Ahmed Shehzad has actually shut down shots to eliminate risk and improve his game – this is why his temperament is much better this year and still getting runs at the same time as maintaining his aggression. Umar Akmal needs to do a similar thing. As I say, he has now improved himself mentally.
He should perhaps be picked for NZ tour, but I would struggle to see who he would replace from the teams I have picked, because all the players I have picked are proven performers.
Pakistan must focus on Junaid Khan and Mohammad Rameez because they have great ability and they are both very young. Junaid Khan’s performances in the A team and domestic level have been fantastic. Mohammad Rameez has also bowled fairly well in the A team recently and at domestic level – I know he used to be Mohammad Amir’s opening bowling partner for the U19′s a few years ago (both were very young showing their ability). If these two are developed well by great coaches in Waqar and Aaqib Javed, they can do well.
I am not saying he is not better than players like Farhat, and I would pick him ahead of Farhat, but I believe that there is simply no room for him given the teams picked above.
The point I am making is that you assumed the same thing about Shahzaib who failed miserably really apart from one match – don’t underestimate the pressure of international matches because these players know if they fail, they are out of the team. Also the quality of bowling is a lot better than domestic cricket which is why the A team is a good step in between for both reason (pressure and quality of bowling).
I would rather see an Ahmed Shehzad who has scored runs in the A team than an Ahmed Shehzad who has simply done well at domestic level – e.g. Umar Akmal and Azhar Ali are two examples of how much the A team can help. If he performs for the A team, he will also get a longer run in the side.
Below are the teams I would pick, excluding Amir, Asif & Butt:
1. Mohammad Hafeez
2. Azhar Ali
3. Shoaib Malik
4. Younis Khan (capt)
5. Mohammad Yousuf
6. Umar Akmal
7. Kamran Akmal (wkt)
8. Umar Gul
9. Saeed Ajmal
10. Junaid Khan
11. Mohammad Rameez
ODI
1. Mohammad Hafeez
2. Kamran Akmal (wkt)
3. Shoaib Malik
4. Younis Khan (capt)
5. Mohammad Yousuf
6. Umar Akmal
7. Shahid Afridi
8. Abdul Razzaq
9. Umar Gul
10. Shoaib Akhtar
11. Saeed Ajmal
T20
1. Mohammad Hafeez
2. Imran Nazir
3. Kamran Akmal (wkt)
4. Shoaib Malik
5. Shahid Afridi (capt)
6. Mohammad Yousuf
7. Umar Akmal
8. Abdul Razzaq
9. Umar Gul
10. Shoaib Akhtar
11. Saeed Ajmal
Maaz
The last time he played international cricket I remember he was struggling to keep his shots down on the ground, he is not afraid to play his shots but in test cricket even player like Tendulkar sometimes shut down his few shots to eliminate risk, this is the main problem with Umar Akmal and Ahmad Shahzad they continue to attempt high risk pull and hook shots even when they are struggling to play them and repeatedly get out on them. Shahzad when last time played for Pakistan was struggling to keep his shots on the ground specially on the leg side.
He plays with a very straight bat, has a very wide range of strokes I think only the mental side of the game is not very strong, a lot of Pakistani players just play the game on the basis of instincts but at international level to be successfull and consistent especially in the test matches a batsman prime goal should be to assess his limitations and play within himself and eliminate the risk completely.
PCB should pick him up for the tour of Newzealand.
As regards Raza Hassan I will comment more on him only when I will see him bowl in 4 day matches, so far what I saw of him there was nothing special, he bowls too fast for a left arn orthodox bowler his performance in the last T20 tournament wasn’t impressive at all.
I do not agree with you on Rahman, I think he is the best left arm orthodox spinner in the country he is not great but is certainly better than Kaneria.
We wasted too much time with Kaneria and in the process we have wasted a few spinners and didn’t gave them enough exposure internationally. Ajmal is also fading quickly and I think with no Aamer and Asif in the team bowling is going to become a problem for Pakistan in the next two years.
PCB
How is he comeing straight back into the national team when he has already worked hard for more than a year at domestic level and with U19 team, none of the players in the current A team is better than him. Why waste time with Farhat when we have a young player who is ready even if he struggels a bit initially he should be persisted with instead of certified losers like Farhat.
Things which stand out about Shehzad
1) Hand eye coordination is outstanding
2) Can play a wide variety of shots all over the wicket, especially on the front foot
3) Not afraid to express himself openly and confidently. Usually likes to score freely
4) Strong bottom hand player, where he is able to extract power from
5) Despite being attacking by nature, his technique and temperament isn’t that bad it seems
Out of the Youngsters I rate him along with Hammad and Raza really highly
Wasim
He has had exposure playing against top class batting sides and has done well. In LO cricket many young spinners tend to be reluctant to give the ball more air nowadays. However, if he is effective and does his job we can’t argue with that. I haven’t seen his bowling be predictable yet at all. Rehman is nothing, an ordinary spinner, reliable operator but nothing special or unique like Raza. Wait and see, he can go on to become a champion performer for Pakistan.
My point is that Ahmed Shehzad has only played around 6 international matches. He does not have a track record like players such as Younis/Fawad Alam/Azhar (just examples) – who can be recalled straight back into the side because they are experienced.
PCB
Again the difference here is that Ahmad is not going straight to international cricket he is going back to international cricket after one year of domestic cricket so what you are suggesting has already been done, and I wasn’t talking about WI tour I was talking about srilankan tour and the tri series.
From the team playing the A test against WI, the only selection query is that of Shan Masood. All the others are justifiable.
I think Ahmed Shahzad was given a few matches last summer. I agree in that he should have been demoted to the A team, but that still doesn’t justify that he should come straight into the international side. Players should only come into the national side if they have considerable past experience and have performed consistently at domestic level.
There have been a couple of poor selections in the A tours, but those of Ghumman, Shafiq and co have been good. 29 is not old for a batsman, but really we need two or three younger players who can take over the batting for Pakistan. If Sajjad comes into the team, he will be around 33 by the time Younis and Yousuf have retired and then he will probably retire soon after. I would prefer some stability over this period of time, and Pakistan has the players required to do that. Aamer Sajjad could be considered as an opening choice though, and then justify his selection from that point.
I think Raza Hasan is only slightly overhyped. He had an excellent world cup u19 campaign and his domestic performances have also been very good. He is only 18 and he is playing in division 1 at present – and he is doing very well. Zulifqar Babar and Rehman are much better than him at present, but Raza Hasan is very young and when the likes of Ajmal, Babar and Rehman retire over the next 5-7 years, Raza Hasan may well be one of the better spin bowlers.
I think ICC has realized Pakistan will be stronger without Kaneria and K Akmal so they decided to clear both players:)) Just kidding.
I haven’t seen the list of 40 players can you guys post the link if you have seen it. I think Akmal is still under investigation and PCB just don’t want to make alternative arrangements at the eleventh hour they are trying to make chota khatmal ready.
Maaz
For me that was just awefull batting than a great bowling spell. Would follow him more carefully in domestic matches, I don’t like Raza Hassan at all he was over hyped by Ijaz Ahmad bowls too fast for a spinner, I havent seen any variations in his bowling in the shorter formats sometimes ordinary bowlers also get some wickets as the batsmen are trying to score some quick runs, just notice him bowl against good batting sides and you will see that he will look pretty ordinary, Zulifqar Babar and Rahman are much better than him.
PCB
I remember what you said of Ahmad Shahzad but I think his case is different than other youngsters as he has played with the national team and has performed reasonably well and after one bad series he was dropped from not only from the main side but also the A team. In the last few A team tours the selection was extremely wrong specially the team which went srilanka recently it included quite a few players who will probably never play for Pakistan. 29 is not old for a batsman I think Aamer Sajjad should get a chance.
As I have already informed you, Kaneria and Akmal were not to be selected by the PCB on the say so of ICC. The ICC has now told the PCB they are clear for selection and I belive they have been included in the list of 40 probables.
PCB
Raza Hasan is a promising prospect for sure
1) He can contain and attack
2) Can extract good purchase
3) Can adjust quickly when bowling to right and left handers, very good bowler to left handers and can apparently bowl a doosra too although I have not seen him bowl one yet which will turn away from the left hander
4) Varies his pace and trajectory effectively and smartly
5) Good accuracy and control
However, I have been disappointed with his recent performances in the QEA, he is a better bowler then what he has been showing
I have high hopes for him in the years to come
I agree with you that he is higher up on the pecking order
Will keep an eye on his progress
Now we realise that the ICC did not have any involvement in side-lining Kamran for this series. It was all done deliberately by the PCB. The sign suggest they are moving on. He has been cleared yes, but whether he will play in the WC or not remains a different matter.
He seems to have some talent but I don’t think he shows consistency. He must be consistent in performances and his bowling to be a success.
I would also feel that Usman Qadir and Raza Hasan are ahead of him in the pecking order – two bowlers who have displayed consistency and have significant potential.
http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakdomestic-2010/content/player/288216.html
Wasim
Take a look
Here is some footage from the QEA of the legspinner from Karachi I told you about who is 18 years old at the moment. Here is a match where he took 7 wickets, but the batting standards are shocking. What’s your take on him?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5EZg9CJ8Gw&feature=player_embedded
The PCB has come up with a list of 40 probables for the NZ tour and the WC. Aamer, Asif and Butt are not included in the lsit. Akmal and Kaneria are now included – previously the ICC had stated to the PCB not to include these players, but they have now been cleared.
Maz
I think Ahmed Shehzad is a great prospect for Pakistan. However, I stick to what I said before the SA series in that I believe he needs to be given a run in the A side before he should come into the first team. Too often, we see players fail (Shahzaib was a typical example).
Shehzad has played well, but those currently in the team should be given a run. I have already commented on two young bright fast bowling prospects in Junaid Khan and Mohammed Rameez – Junaid Khan in particular has been performing consistently. Zulfiqar Babar has also impressed, although he is slightly older.
I think effectively Pakistan A team should be sent to compete in the games. This should be the case for any competition .
Wasim
Ahmed Shahzad has definitely learnt how to bat longer periods of time and maintain an aggressive and positive attitude I think. However, as I say, he needs to apply that against A team bowlers before he should be considered for national selection. I do not dispute he is in fantastic form, but the basis for selection should be proven performances over a period of time and not just form.
Aamer Sajjad has impressed most out of the batters on the A tour, but he is around 29, and whilst he deserves a call up soon maybe if he can carry on peforming for the A team, he may not be a long term benefit for Pakistan. With Younis and Yousuf to retire in the next 4 years, and also the loss of other experienced players like Misbah, then Pakistan should invest more time in young players currently in the national side – e.g. Umar Akmal, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali – all players who have the potential to deliver.
The ICC has cleared the match and both Salman Butt and Kamran Akmal. The texts were between the players and Majeed, and the ICC has had the texts for a while. You are right, he was using sim cards from three different countries, but there is no concrete proof.
I am disappointed on Kamran Akmal getting another chance but hopefully if he and his brother don’t change their ways they will get caught sooner or later.
PCB
We are still not clear if ICC has just cleared Kamran Akmal or the match because if they havent cleared the match that means some other players are being investigated, as regards the evidence being circumstantial we can’t say for sure as ICC is going through the phone records of Mazhar Majeed and tracing his calls made to Pakistani players especially the SMS’s. And I believe they were investigating a few SMS’s made between Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal and Mazhar Majeed were under investigation, Salman Butt got out on a horrendous shot in that match apparently he was using sim cards from three different countries so that his calls could not be traced.
At this point I think ICC will reinforce their case against Salman Butt and at later stage open up cases against more players as I am certain that more players have been involved.
We should all support an aggressive investigation into the matter as these players have destroyed Pakistan cricket and if you see that Pakistan’s performance as a team has improved without these players, the new players are not as attractive as some of the experienced but tainted players but at least they are giving their 100% even if Pakistan doesn’t do well in world cup because of some of these players getting banned but I think in the longer run these steps will benefit Pakistan cricket and enable it to weed out the corrupt elements from the team and our team will go through a much needed rebuilding process out of necessity.
I have just come across this on cricinfo, which suggests the same:
http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan/content/story/487580.html
Wasim
I was just providing the info about the 3rd ODI vs Eng. I know it was cleared and rightly so because the events in those two overs could not have been fixed.
Yes, apparently the ICC has cleared the T20 WC match. I do not know whether this is because of lack if evidence etc. – I have seen the texts and they are very very general and it is all circumstantial.
PCB
Are you saying that ICC has cleared the match under suspicion?
The third Odi against England we won, ICC cleared that match later on, but the initial suspicion was based on some chatter between some bookies who were predicting about some scoring patterns in Pakistan’s innings this is the same match after which Ijaz Butt gave that statement which caused trouble for him and PCB, I can’t say anything about scoring patterns because it is very difficult to figure out what was planned to be fixed but the only thing which was suspicious to many was the way Afridi got run out he didn’t grounded his bat even though he had plenty of time.
Apparently they have been cleared by the ICC. I did see some of the texts earlier and they were very general and only circumstantial.
Also, regarding Pakistan’s 3rd ODI vs Eng at the Oval, I wasn’t posting at the time, so I don’t know whether you know but the suspect overs were the 39th and 40th overs (the end of that 10 over bracket). The events of the overs seemed normal and Afridi was involved in a freak run out in one.
PCB
It’s not upto me to make anything out of it as there are plenty of other matches where I have raised my suspicions. Nothing can be proved until you can susbstantiate it with evidence and I think ICC has some evidence in this case.In the next 24 hours if ICC release the details it will be more clear but I do agree with you that the players under suspicion will be Kamran Akmal and Salman Butt.
KARACHI: The Anti-Corruption Unit of the International Cricket council (ICC) is investigating a match spot-fixing scandal in the Twenty20 World Cup played this year in the West Indies.
Sources told Geo News that the ICC Anti-corruption Unit is probing the involvement of one or two Pakistan players in a match spot-fixing during the tournament. The match was played between Pakistan and South Africa on May 10, 2010. In the match Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first. There are reports of alleged spot-fixing in the first 10 overs of the match.
The sources further informed that under investigation players in this scandal had planned for alleged spot-fixing through mobile phones. The numbers on which contacts were made are of England, West Indies and Dubai series.
The sources told that the ICC’s Anti-corruption Unit has interrogated two Pakistani players in this regard, and players had accepted that these numbers belong to them
More details regarding the match and the players involved in spot-fixing are expected in next 24 hours.
One of the following two WC T20 matches is under investigation mainly – either the match against SA or the semi final against AUS. Apparently, it focuses on the first 10 overs of Pakistan’s innings.
The Australia match is interesting in particular. First of all, Kamran Akmal batted a maiden over in the 1st over. It would be interesting to see whether he tapped the pitch at any point – I have been told he did. Salman Butt and Kamran Akmal batted until 9.4 overs of the innings had gone, when Kamran got out. Pakistan were only 32/0 after 5 overs. They made 85/1 after the first 10 overs. This would be good for match fixers, because Pakistan accelerated the scoring in the bracket.
It is up to you what you make of it – I am not saying there is anything conclusive.
PCB
Please share the information you have no choice.
Nothing has progressed in Haider’s case he hasn’t revealed anything so far, but in the wake of the spot fixing scandal and the threats which Haider recieved ACSU has decided to VET the Pakistani contingent to the world cup.
In other words ICC has no confidence in the integrity of PCB’s administration and have decided to take the matters in their own hands. ICC also held lectures in Urdu for Pakistani cricketers about how they should deal with match fixing and must have also told them about the consequences all of these steps are in the right direction but I guess they have come a bit too late as a few very bright and promising cricketers who unwillingly followed the wrong path could have been saved if ICC had acted a bit earlier.
The integrity of Pakistan cricket cannot be restored unless Ijaz Butt’s adminstration is controlling PCB, I strongly believe that ICC that besides Vetting the players the removal of Ijaz Butt from office should have been ICC’s main demand nothing can be achieved untill he is in office and very little will be achieved, we witnessed in the ODI series against SA that a few players still gave a very shady performance, the problem of match fixing is not limited to just a few players, nine players revolted against Younis Khan and all of these nine players have been underperforming since last two years.
The problem is that once a player decides to underperform for money he can’t get out of it even if he wants to as he will constantly get black mailed and forced to do what the book makers want him to do.
There is a faint hope that the three suspended players for spot fixing will have a fall out with PCB administration and will speak up after they get banned.
Pakistan will find it hard to pick a squad of 15 for the world cup as I strongly believe more players will not get approval from ICC .
I have information that indicates the two players are Salman Butt and Kamran Akmal
The ICC is investigating a Pakistan match for spot fixing in the Twenty20 World Cup (this year’s). The ACSU is probing one or two players and has solid evidence against the players. Mobile phone records have been checked and the players have been questioned.
A little but of luck coupled with the strong will of Younis Khan and Azhar Ali enabled Pakistan to draw the first test, Younis and Azhar Ali batted extremely well, South African bowlers toiled extremely hard but their pacers can’t reverse the ball in these conditions and were only relying on pace and bounce which wasn’t bothering Pakistani’s a lot.
Azhar made a defiant 65, South Africa was hoping that his dismissal will open the gates but Misbah batted very sensibly for his 76 Pakistan could have gone for the win and some might criticise them for not doing that but a win was highly improbable with only one recognized batsman remaining in the dressing room.
Pakistan has been playing it’s test matches in foreign conditions during the last 12-14 months where their inexperienced batting line up was severely tested but in Dubai the conditions were a lot like home and no wonder that we managed to compete with a top test team with just three regular bowlers and a less than full strength batting line up.
If this test was being played in England, Australia or anywhere outside the subcontinent Pakistan would have never crossed 300 in the last innings and would folded under 200 in just a few sessions.
The other teams have been enjoying home advantage but for the last three years Pakistan has hardly played any test cricket in home conditions and as a result all the negative results added additional pressure on a team which was already going through rebuilding stage.
Pakistan should not plan any home test series at a venue other than Dubai or Emirates in future.
PCB might lose some money but right now a lot more is at stake so they shouldn’t worry too much about money.
Pakistan needs 342 to win fand have 8 wickets in hand but in reality one more wicket and Pakistan will fold as they did in the first innings although Umar Akmal and Misbah have margin in this innings to score 50′s and retain their place in the second match.
There is absolutely no chance for Pakistan to win they haven’t chased a score of 300 in the fourth innings in a long time.
Eralier Umar Gul, Ajmal and Rahman failed to repeat their performance of the first innings. Partly it was due to superb batting display by Kallis and Amla and mainly it was toothless and ordinary bowling by Saeed Ajmal and Rahman on a spin friendly track. Kallis rode his luck he was lucky to survive an lbw appeal and a catch was dropped by Umar Gul but even if the chances were taken the damage could not have avoided.
It was hard for Pakistan to bowl out SA with just 3 bowlers. The real culprits in this match were Umar Akmal and Misbah Ul Haq who threw away the strong plat form given to them by the top four batsmen in the first innings and conceded a huge first innings to SA, Pakistan were never going to recover from that set back.
Still the hope remains with Younis and Azhar to bat tomorrow like Amla and Kallis and save the match for Pakistan.
Maaz
Anybody who wants to stay on the wicket can score in domestic cricket, and there is a long list of domestic giants who perished in the international arena because they either had poor technique or weren’t strong enough to handle pressure. Fawad has no temprament problem but he does have a faulty technique.
I have seen that only scores when he stops moving big inside the crease and retains his balance wouldn’t mind him in tests if he fixes that problem.
I was surfing the net and came across the affidavits of former Pakistani cricket team members to the justice Qayuum inquiry. Horrible stuff……
http://www.contactpakistan.com/Communitylibrary/general/news114.htm#WE are now confused – Who is telling the Truth
His FC average is very high to be fair to him Wasim. Its approximately 57.
People have a strong argument in your favour and the stats are undisputedly brilliant in their own right, however as well all know our domestic infra-structure and standards are not a true reflection or indication of one’s true potential and is a very low ranked standard in terms of professionalism and quality. If he played in England, SA, NZ or Australia his stats would probably be nowhere near that level they are currently where his technical limitations would be exploited with sheer ease due to the higher standards and much more challenging conditions. If he plays a full season in these domestic circuits his average would probably be not that great if anything. Its good to see him performing and pressuring the selectors, but I am highly doubtful that he will make any change or improvement to our performances in the 5 day format. I can fully understand why the selectors have ignored him as much I can fully understand as to why the fans rate him so highly, but one has to consider the bigger picture and face the reality.
His scores so far in Tests when he played in 2009 are as follows: 16/168/16/16/29/5=Inconsistency
Before the start of todays play in my last comment I wrote that I don’t expect anything from Umar Akmal and Misbah and they didn’t proved me wrong. Both came in played a few crowd pleasing shots and immediately got out before getting into double figures. These bastards have become too predictable.
Pakistan fought back and are now in an even position with South Africa, Gul decided to take the resposibility as Pakistan’s lead bowler and has so far done extremely well, he was unlucky not to get wickets on day one but on the second day his spell destroyed the hopes of south Africa to post a sizeable total. This match proves that Gul has double personality one is the most fearsome and most talented swing bowler in the world and the second one who just pretends to be a quality bowler.
Dale Steyn and M Morkel are considered to be the best test fast bowling pair in the world but those who saw Gul bowl in this match would acknowledge that Gul’s mastery over swing is way a head of these two bowlers, they were completely flat on this pitch where Gul was making the ball talk, but can’t understand why he is so inconsistent.
The chances of Pakistan to get even with south africa rest on the shoulders of Azhar and Younis, I don’t expect anything from Misbah and Umar Akmal, these two will have to score the bulk of runs.
Yusaf
I think ACSU and ICC has been in contact with Haider and they also offered him help and security assurances but either both Haider and ACSU are keeping their talks secret according to ACSU policy or Haider told them nothing.
Bottom line is Haider will put himself into a lot of trouble if he doesn’t start talking.
What disgusts me is that people like Wasim Akram has the nerve to criticize Haider all the EX tainted players took media shots at Haider but nobody had the decency to encourage him they all talk about how Haider has brought shame for the country. It’s all bullshit those who brought shame for the country we on the first opportunity will be willing to forgive them this poor guy only lacks courage and is surrounded from all corners.
I think PCB has launched a systematic campagin of discrediting Haider by planting negative news in the media and by encouraging people like Akram to speak against him.
Only a fool will believe that the PCB administration and the current team mangement is honest and doing every thing right and are corruption free.
Yousaf had a groin injury through out the first four Odis but in the last ODI they had to drop Haider and all of a sudden Yousaf’s groin injury was cured, and once again just before the toss of the first test his groin injury aggravated and he was out of the series. Haven’t these moron s heard about fitness tests.
And why all the tainted players keep on getting injured and all of a sudden, Kamran Akmal, Umar Akmal, Yousaf and now Wahab Riaz.
I think ICC should ask for the MRI report of both Yousaf and Wahab Riaz.
Maaz
Azhar’s technique and temprament is good for test cricket but he is limited as far as his range of shots is concerned. But I think Pakistan’s batting line up desperately needs aplayer like him in their test line up as we have plenty of players who can play power shots but we don’t have many who can play a long grinding innings he adds variety in our batting line up.
Maaz
I have been saying this since last two years, but I guess Fawad has huge jingoistic fan base which turned him into a super star. You are right he can only score on nudges and pushes in Odi’s when the field is spread out but in test matches he scored a lucky century on debut he could have gotten out twenty times in that innings but it was his lucky day he some how survived and that century alone has fueled his career thus far.
He is an ugly player, has no foot movement can’t hit power shots and is a sitting duck against quality bowlers. In Odis and T20 any tom dick and harry can score of nudges and pushes due to the field restrictions as long as they don’t take risks to score boundaries but even in Odis most of his dismissals are embarrasing. I don’t think he is good enough to play in test matches he hasn’t improved his foot work in last two years and don’t think he can improve it. Asad also has a few problems but I rate him much higher than Fawad.
Fawad Alam has to be the most talentless and overrated cricketer Pakistan have produced or hyped up with public sympathy. He barely can clear the 30 yard circle in ODIs and often his dismissals are soft and embarrassing. With the field back he can nudge or nurdle singles and build partnerships, but to say that he can or should play Tests is a big overstatement which needs a serious re-thought. His technique is absolutely horrendous and he is no great batting talent that he will be able to compensate for it. He is performing in the QEA but the PCB shouldn’t draft him into Test or T20 squads for that matter. He is okay in ODIs but Hammad Azam is leagues better then him.
Wasim, what’s your take on this? I am commenting about this in this thread as the Test Match is in progression and I feel this area deserves discussion.
Azhar Ali is temperamentally the strongest young Pakistan batsmen there has been in years. Such a mature and focussed lad who is unfazed by what is going on around him. He plays each balls on its merit, eliminates any risk attached to his game and knows his game plan such as his capabilities and limitations thoroughly well. Obviously and inevitably will never really be appreciated by our Afridi fanatics, but I have high hopes for him.
its so very obvious that the PCB and the government of Pakistan are putting tons of pressure on the family of Zulqarnain Haider. Compared to the first day the familiy’s tune have changed and are now instead blaming Zulqarnain for doing what he did. Wasim, I agree with you totally, I think Zulqarnain is now trying to patch things up with the PCB and in the end he will be the biggest loser. PCB will promise him everything to get him back to Pakistan but then when he is there they will fuck him. He will never play for Pakistan again and will be discredited as the player who turned his back on the team. The ICC is also playing a double game. I am flabbergasted that the ICC is not in direct contact with Zulqarnain, offering him whatever he needs in security to name names. The ICC is blatantly siding with the PCB in this case. The lesson to the cricketers in Pakistan will be that its a lot more lucrative and safer to agree to the demands of the match fixers.
By the way, I am hearing that Ijaz Butt is going to get an extention by Zardari as the head of the PCB because he has done such a tremendous job so far. I would like to think this is a bad dream but sadly it is not. This match fixing mafia which includes high level politicians, some of them in the Zardari government, have prevailed. Unless Zulqarnain speaks out – I see no hope.
Pcb
Junaid khan will sure make it into the national team very soon
http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/480427.html
Junaid Khan and Zulfiqar Babar continue to impress.
Daryl Harper won the day for South Africa, he made sure that South Africa gets a good start, declined several LBw appeals and a clear caught behind, Pakistan paid the price of not going for UDRS.
If ICC is serious in restoring the integrity of the game then they should look into the episodes of shady and biased umpiring, some of the decisions made by umpires were so wrong that they can’t be regarded as honest judgement errors, if ACSU thinks that only the players can fix the matches then they should rethink because umpires are in a much better position to change the outcome of a match.
Pakistan would have won the ODi series against England 4-1 if the umpires were not on Englands side in every match they gave the inform Strauss multiple lives and the pattern continues in this series.
ICC should weed out umpires of poor reputation from it’s elite panel and should adopt strict policies of reviewing the standard of umpiring or should make UDRS compulsory for every series.
It would be hard for Pakistan to come back into the match as SA are all set to post a huge total thanks to Daryl harper who was acted as South Africa’s 12th man and their guardian angel.
Umar Gul and Saeed Ajmal were the unlucky bowlers. Pakistan also got another set back when Wahab Riaz got injured it’s unlikely that he will bowl tomorrow.
Yousaf’s groin started hurting once again a few moments before the toss, I wonder why he was selected in the first place and why his fitness test wasn’t taken a few days before the test. All other teams take rigorous fitness tests for players who are coming out of injury why we can’t do that, it is a simple procedure to follow which can eliminate last minute changes and can remove uncertainity but I guess PCB likes uncertainity and surprises.
I think he has already revealed about the domestic tournaments where he was harrassed but that happened so long ago I don’t think it would help besides he hasn’t named anybody and the information he has given thus far is very vague.
PCB
Adnan Akmal had performed better than all the keepers in recent domestic tournaments and Sarfraz of late has declined as a batsman and a keeper but if we keep the real intention behind bringing Akmal’s in the team then Sarfraz or any other keeper would have been a better choice but we all know why that didn’t happened.
I would have thought Sarfraz Ahmed would be a better choice as keeper-batsman in tests than Adnan Akmal. Otherwise why is he on the A tour?
Reports have also emerged indicating Haider was on the verge of being dropped from the one-day line-up. The influential Urdu daily Jang claimed in a front page report, citing team sources, that Haider was not inked in to be a part of either the fourth or fifth ODI. Instead, in a bid to find a better balance to the side, the team management was keen on doubling up Umar Akmal as a batsman-wicketkeeper in his place.
But an ankle injury prevented Umar Akmal from playing the fourth ODI and though he fulfilled that role after Haider’s departure in the last ODI, Jang claims he would have done so regardless of Haider’s status. The report suggests that Haider had been told of his ‘resting’ the evening before the last ODI.
Haider, who has sought asylum in the UK and retired from international cricket, also said that he handed over two letters he received in his Dubai hotel room to the ICC’s anti-corruption unit. ESPNcricinfo understands, however, that the ICC at least has not received any documents yet from the player
One thing he could reveal is about the domestic match fixing which may give the ICC more leads.
Yusaf Khan
You are right BBC should have given him an interpretor, but I don’t think he would have still revealed any thing. He is clearly avoiding all the direct questions regarding match fixing.
I am disappointed with Haider I think he has wasted everybody’s time. He is not a liar, neither he ran away for Asylum nor he was looking to make quick money.
I think he is still scared or he is getting second thoughts and is trying to patch up with PCB.
So far he has not revealed anything which proves that corruption is rampant in Pakistan cricket he hasn’t done any good for Pakistan cricket which many thought that he will by blowing the whistle.
There are indications that PCB has used every tool available to them to threaten him, they revoked his contract, told the media that he will never play for Pakistan again, the distressed calls from his father to force him to return to Dubai may also have been made due to threatening phone calls, but by chickening out at this stage Haider probably has done more damage to himself than in any other situation, he probably will not get asylum because his statements don’t prove a credible threat of life to him nor does they prove that if he returns to Pakistan the state won’t be able to help him or provide protection to him.
That could have only be proved if he had revealed the identity of the culprits which he has been hiding or if he had given some proofs of the PCB administration’s involvement in match fixing.
Now it looks as if he made his decision in haste and realized his mistake later on and is now only trying to find residency in UK and start a career over there, I don’t expect him to reval anything.
By stating on multiple occasions that he hasn’t been involved with the book makers so he doesn’t have any information now reduces the credibility of his statements if he choses to make reveal anything later on in fromt of an immigration judge. Also he has stated on multiple occassions that he doesn’t know anything about involvement of other cricketers or the administration.
Didn’t learn much from the interview. I think the BBC should have had an urdu speaker too who could translate the questions for Zulqarnain.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/9182072.stm
Stefanie
I am not interested.
My suspicion against Farhat is simple – in the game that we needed to chase 220 odd he deliberately slowed down the innings. In the other games he just got out playing stupid shots. Like I said, we know he was involved in the ICL.
Ask youself why is Farhat being selected non stop since the NZ tour in Nov 09 when he hasn’t played well? Afridi and Yousuf are match winners, so the same does not apply for them.
Riaz – he got out on the last ball of the 47th over. After his wicket fell, Pakistan needed 20 runs off 18 balls with one wicket left. If he was match fixing, he would have stayed at the wicket and wasted balls. He also did not throw away his wicket because it was an edge to the wicketkeeper – it could have easily gone for four. If he wanted to throw his wicket away, then he would have hit the ball straight up in the air. Also, the ICC has not prevented Riaz from playing even though they selected him. Same for the PCB. So we can assume he is innocent – but I did post some information before about him:
Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal and Shoaib Malik used to fix matches in domestic tournaments as well.
PCB has conducted investigations about these players in the past for match-fixing in domestic tournaments. Shoaib Malik was involved in match fixing in the first National Twenty20 tournament when his team was in position of winning the match easily but he deliberately lost the match and later he openly admitted that he lost the match intentionally. Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Aamer, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt all played for the National Bank. Wahab Riaz is the main person who acts as a middle man for bookies and delivers their messages to Salman Butt and Kamran Akmal..
Players do have to perform but Riaz is a bowler and he performed very well in the bowling. So why would he have to perform in his battiing – he is not even a batter. He made 21 runs off 11 balls which is exceptionally good. Even if he made 20 runs off 17/18 balls he has done well.
I will say no more on the topic of Yousuf, because like I said, if he was fixing then he would not have joined the ICL.
Yousaf Khan
Thanks. You are right that Zardari & CO wouldn’t have provided him with any justice but Haider is wasting too much time and doesn’t look like that he is going to reveal anything of note atleast publicly because remember he fears persecution. He might provide some details to ICC’s ACSU in private or the court which will hear his Asylum petition but I don’t think that he is going to reveal much through the newspapers.
PCB
What is the basis on which you are having suspicion against Farhat?
The way he played right. The same is the basis of my negative views against Yousaf and Afridi.
Doesn’t matter how many wickets riaz took or how many runs he scored bottom line is that he threw away his wicket after recieving a message on the ground.
You are forgetting one thing that the players under perform also have to maintain their statistics or else they won’t get selected.That makes it suspicious, we won the fourth one right again Wahab took a suicidal run but before doing that he had scored some runs, remember the statement of Haider ” they asked me to throw the fourth Odi but I didn’t do what they asked me to do neither did I let it happen” The only time while Haider was at crease the match could have been lost if he had taken that suicidal run.Both me and Stani were very upset at him why he didn’t sacrificed his wicket but now we know Why?
Doesn’t matter what Yousaf’s record is it’s not better than Azhar ud din, Wasim Akram, Cronje having a good record doesn’t prove anything, the thing which counts the most in this case how many matches you win for your team what was your contribution and the timing and nature of your dismissal.
Wow…fantastic work Wasim, PCB and Stani. I wholeheartedly agree with you guys. I happen to live in London and want to help Zulqarnain by getting him a proper lawyer who knows exactly what to do. As PCB quoted Zulqarnain in his last comment, “…..The bookmakers are among our ranks. I think influential people are involved. I have heard some influential politicians back the bookies. They run the government, so who can catch them?” I can totally believe this. I remember a few months ago it was revealed that a PPP MNA from Sialkot, Dr. Fairdau Ashiq Awan, was involved in human trafficking. Not that it is related to this match fixing, but I wouldn’t be surprised if a few politicians are involved in the betting syndicates. After all, massive amounts of money can be made.
I think the steps Haider took to get here were very smart and well thought out. People who are calling him a sellout and a coward are morons and are missing the point. There is no fucking way Zulqarnain could have gotten justice under the present PCB management and the Zardari government. This is a great opportunity for Pakistan cricket to clean itself. I hope we avail of it.
Haider:
“I have not met any match fixers myself, except for the man who approached me, but I know some players have links with them. I can’t name anyone right now but may do so in the future. We need to stop it for the sake of our country and the cricket. The bookmakers are among our ranks. I think influential people are involved. I have heard some influential politicians back the bookies. They run the government, so who can catch them?”
I have mentioned my views to you about Sohail Tanvir and match fixing before. If his withdrawal was fitness related, why is he playing domestic cricket?
Apparently, the ICC has also told PCB not to play K Akmal and Kaneria
I think match fixing is more effective when the captain is involved, but a captain is not necessarily needed. I do not believe Afridi is a match fixer – especially as Majeed himself said so. At the end of the day, the fixers want as many players in the team as possible. Haider is a younger player of the squad who can be targeted, and he has his whole career ahead of him if he remains in the team – that is why he may have been targeted. I agree – there are much better match winners in the team, but I refuse to believe players like Afridi, Razzaq, Younis, Yousuf and Akhtar would fix.
We don’t have any evidence the 3rd match was fixed but surely if Wahab was involved then he wouldn’t have scored or bowled well – 10 overs for 46 runs and 1 wicket, 21 runs off 11 balls. However, I think it is suspicious the way Farhat has played – we know he was involved in fixing in the ICL.
I think Yousuf is clean,otherwise his career doesn’t make any sense. It would be impossible to score so many runs over the past few years and be a fixer also. Also, he fell out with Malik and went to the ICL. If he was a fixer, wouldn’t he have continued playing for Pakistan – otherwise the bookies would have threatened him.
I believe someone in the PCB may be involved, but do not believe it is the team management. Waqar Younis was only a bowling consultant for the Australian tour and full time coach after. Intikhab wasn’t even on the tour to England. So it doesn’t make sense for these guys to be involved – this fixing goes back years to the domestic match I have outlined above. I think Shafqat Rana is involved which is why he has been removed as well as Saleem Altaf who was removed a while back.
Yep, both the PCB and the government are trying to distance themselves from him. The Government because they feel ashamed that Haider is saying that their security is not good enough to protect their own citizen and the PCB because….well this is the interesting one. Are the implications of Haider’s actions i.e. there is still corrupting in the international set up and the domestic set up, actually true? Is this why the PCB is trying to distance themselves from him and discredit him?
In a way by distancing from Haider PCB has paved way for Haider to blow the whistle as he is not left with any other choice. Unless haider’s family have been seriously threatened back home, he will blow the whistle in the coming few days.
If it was any other country they would first have given all kind of support to their player and after holding an independent inquiry into the matter would have taken appropriate steps to either support him or to punish him depending upon the results of the inquiry but PCB here has been to quick to start the punitive measures against Haider which is quite strange.
PCB has cancelled Haider’s central contract and has released a statement that he will never play for Pakistan again, the minister of sports instead of showing sympathy for the player who was threatened for his life has condemned him and called him a coward. The reaction shown by PCB and the sports minister is quite surprising they should have shown some concern for Haider rather than immediately penalizing him this clearly demonstrates why Haider chose to flee to ENgland and had no confidence in state authorities back home or the cricket administration.
Zulqarnain Haider has said that he received threats from match-fixers while playing domestic cricket in Pakistan. The wicketkeeper said that when he was captain of the Lahore Eagles for three months last year he was instructed by bookmakers that he “should play so and so player or not play that player”.
Particular suspicion has fallen on a one-day match between the Lahore Eagles and the National Bank in the RBS Cup in March 2009. National Bank, one of the most popular teams on the domestic circuit, needed to win and also improve their run rate to ensure they qualified for the semi-finals of the competition.
Salman Butt, who is currently under investigation for match-fixing, was playing for National Bank along with Wahab Riaz, who has also been questioned by British police this summer, and the Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal.
The Lahore Eagles sacked Haider as captain on the eve of the game, apparently because he refused to pick particular players for the match. Haidar specifically objected to the inclusion of a right-arm fast bowler called Usman Sarwar, who had never played for the team before.
Batting first, the Eagles were bowled out for 122 in 40.3 overs. In the second innings National Bank scored 123 off just 6.1 overs, with Butt making 92 off 25 balls. Sarwar opened the bowling and conceded 78 runs from his three overs and never played another List A or first-class match. National Bank qualified for the semi-finals. The Pakistan Cricket Board investigated the match and said that they found no evidence of foul play.
Stani
An international cricket player can find many other ways to legally migrate to UK if he wants to get settled there, for that I don’t think he has to create such a huge drama all he has to do is to sign up a contract with a league or county.
I don’t doubt his statements as we all know and have criticised PCB for their favoritism for Akmal brothers and a few other players who repeatedly underperform.
Also we have the example of Aamer in front of us how within a year he was targeted and bought over.
There are people who are approaching and targeting our cricketers and the management let them come close to our players and have deliberately placed no controls to stop such people getting close to young players. Ofcourse the captain, coach and the manager themselves won’t convince or force a young player to underperform however they can quietly through selection and other means can marginalize a player and gradually destroy the career of a young promising player who is not willing to sell himself.
We have seen in the past how Haider was sent home after the leeds test he wasn’t even given the test cap.
I think if he recieved the real threats then this is the only thing he could have done, remember that the threat was real and his family is still in Pakistan, by telling ICC or approaching PCB regarding the subject wouldn’t have ensured his own safety or his family’s.
Also the fact that we sitting outside based on just circumstantial evidence can form a strong negative opinion about PCB administration imagine a player who has been playing domestic cricket for quite some time and now playing for the national team wouldn’t he know inside out as to who are the mafia men within the team management and PCB. I found out on his facebook page that Aamer was his best friend in the team they must have been talking and I am sure he must have known how Aamer was pressured into the acts he did and now by just looking how PCB has abondoned the trio he must not want to make the same mistake as his friend did, besides he must have known all along that by underperforming he will only make his rival Kamran Akmal look good and effectively end his cricketing career.
So I don’t think that he had any other choice but to retire, poor guy doesn’t want to blow the whistle for the sake of his families safety but now is not left with much choice as for his asylum case he will have to reveal every thing he knows.
The most important point is that whatever has happened, was bad enough, or good enough (if he just wanted asylum) for him to give up his career.
I also found it strange the manner in which he was sent back home after the 2nd test in England. He went into that Test with that injury which was apparently aggravated by Broad throwing the ball at him. There were two Tests to play but the next thing you know Haider was being ushered on to a plane. He wasnt happy with being dropped himself so surely there was something fishy going on.#
But the fact he chose not tell anyone…PCB, ICC or team mates seems strange.
Pakistan cricket is never boring!
Zulqernain’s father has instructed him to go back to Dubai and join the team, in a statement Zulqernain has also said that he is willing to play the test matches but only if PCB provides certain assurances, PCB on the other hand through it’s legal advisor has said that Zulqernain will be held accountable for breaching his contract by going AWOL.
Zulqernain’s family has said that they won’t move to England just for the fear of their life. Typical statements made by a family in duress the family seems to be under constant threats and sees that they won’t be able to leave Pakistan therefore wants to settle the issue as quickly as possible. This is something only those people would understand whose family got threatened by the state machinery and fears persecution of some sort.
Another interesting news was released on Geo netwrok that an agent of News of the world was seen with Zulqernain and they might release Zulqernain’s detailed interview on Sunday, it was reported that a reporter of NOTW was on board the same flight on which Zulqernain travelled to ENgland.
Now it is yet to be seen that whether these news are just planted to discredit Zulqernain or something really comes out in a couple of days. So far Zulqernain has not levelled any allegations on any of his team mates or the administration and has refused to give such information.
“I did not do what I was asked to do in the fourth one-dayer and I also did not let it happen what was being asked to do, so this is the reason that I left the team and came here and I did what I felt better,”
The above statement of Zulqernain Haider reveals a lot.
Faisal thats exactly what must have happened Haider made us win when we were not supposed to.
SP
I think in the coming days ACSU will play it’s role, but you are right about PCB and the team management
PCB
Living in United states I can fully understand the difference between the security situation in Pakistan and England.
The reason I rasied that question was only to highlight the fact that being a prominent cricketer he had no confidence in the team management and the police in his home town that shows his lack of trust in authorities back home.
Neither you nor I have the proof regarding which player is corrupt and which is not we can only rely on circumstantial evidence, if Haider recieved a genuine threat do you honestly believe that a match can be fixed without getting the captain involved? Or the fixers thought only Haider was such a pivatol player in the team who can change the match single handedly on their command. I don’t think so.
Third Odi first we made a mountain of a small total because Imran Farhat and Shafiq slowed the proceedings then there were two wrong decisions in the middle, Afrter that Afridi threw away his wicket Wahab and the tail brough Pakistan close but a message from the dressing room and on the next ball Wahab gets out. We lost by only 2 runs. I have no proof that the match was fixed but similarly you don’t have any that it wasn’t, the evidence and the way our team played makes it suspicious.
The fourth ODI remember how Wahab attempted that suicidal run, imagine if he had gotten Haider out and then in next few deliveries had thrown his wicket too we would have never won the match.
Fifth Odi, we went to the field with our strongest combination and yet we lost, Pakistan could have lost even if they had played at their full potential because in that match South Africans were also playing to their full potential. But the manner in which our bowlers bowled anybody who has played cricket at a higher level would know there was something wrong with the bowlers, Shoaib had been outr most consistent bowler he was up and down the track giving too much width and was bowling extremely flat.
Wahab who was bowling straight as an arrow in the first few matches was wayward and reduced his speed from 142 to 132, both bowlers in relation to their experience and ability were underperforming and not giving 100%.
You might think that Yousaf is clean but I strongly believe otherwise, I know Younis is not for sale but he got out he can’t score in every match he just came back after a long layoff it will take time for him to be more consistent, the shot which Afridi played was again horrendous for the situation, either he has no brains and completely stupid or he is also a crook because a person can make one mistake twice but if he does it 4 out of 5 times then it is a behavior pattern.
I wa stalking about his visa for Dubai, Dubai’s visa is not stamped on the passport you get a status letter, why the management gave him his visa also when he was only borrowing it for a sim card.
You are being naive here a bit thinking that Inti, waqar or Afridi will pass direct orders to Haider when they know that he is a difficult person to buy out, he must have other reasons to believ that the mangement is in it, for instance the way he was sent home after the Leeds test, maybe the person threatening him told him that everybody is under his control and he will lose his place in the team if he didn’t obeyed there can be countless other ways in which can make him not to trust the management.
Dean
I think you answered most of the questions yourself, Haider apparently had no trust in the management because no young player likes to terminate their career before it takes off, not for money not for anything, he must have been left with only two choices either join the corrupt group or put himself in danger and escape.
I don’t know much about him personally but the way he has performed in his brief career and the way he participated in different charitable work it shows he is an honest person.
People might think that he did it for money and cheap publicity but I don’t think so the world should understand how young players from Pakistan are being preyed upon, Aamer was his best friend in the team take his example he gave more than 100% with both bat and ball in the initial series heplayed but after facing different pressures he finally gave up and sold his soul to the devil, now his career is almost over, those who put him on the wrong path are no longer supporting him, he can’t say the truth because if he does then the Tax man would be knocking on his door, or the agents from the federal investigation authority will be harassing him and his family life will become difficult. I think this is the main reason why Haider chose to escape.
Someone has to lose alot of money for someone to make alot of money. Its possible that because of Haider’s performance, someone (some powerful person lost alot of money) and now wants to get back at him. This was the peak of his career so far, I seriously doubt that he would give up everything just to settle in UK. Allah knows best.
Think about Majeed – showing what he could do – demonstrating the kind of control he might be able to exert for a price. This was a sampler. And as further advertisement , he rang and woke Amir, called him fucker and then told him that whatever it was he had called for could wait.
Think about the process by which a young cricketer can get involved in the first place and then sucked ever deeper. Pakistan cricketers do not get paid much comapred to other cricketers. They receive expensive gifts as tokens of esteem.
“You remember me,” they will be told sometime in the future, “I gave you a Rolex. How do you think the team will do? What will be the side?” Harmless enough. But then the suggestions become less conversational, more specific. “We would like you to bowl a wide in the first over of the second match.”
The player does not want to get involved but he is told that already he is and that, unless he complies, they will blow the whistle. Or worse, there will be violence threatened, not against him, but his family. “We won’t break your legs, we will break those of your sister.”
If you think this is an exaggeration, hyperbole, then think again. Not all attempts at match- or spot-fixing, perhaps few, involve massive personal gain for the perpetrators or greed on their part. The rewards are for others, the players pawns in the game. They are in a vortex from which they cannot escape. But perhaps Zulqarnain has evaded it and, if so, he is already a brave lad who has defied some extremely nasty people.
If, as undoubtedly he will be asked to do, he tells a full and frank story to the ACSU, he will be yet braver, for his card will be doubly marked. Not many would want to be in his shoes.
Zulqernain was approached outside of the hotel while he went for dinner.
He was told he would no longer be in the team if he did not cooperate. This may be the reason he did not tell the PCB or the team management. I don’t think Waqar Younis, Shahid Afridi or Intikhab Alam are involved. It could be someone higher up in the PCB.
wasim… zul’s disappearing act is not only the telling comment of his faith in his team management or pcb but it is also a telling comment on rudderless ACSU…
Test side:
1. Mohammad Hafeez
2. Azhar Ali
3. Umar Akmal
4. Younis Khan
5. Mohammad Yousuf
6. Misbah-ul-Haq (capt)
7. Adnan Akmal (wk)
8. Wahab Riaz
9. Umar Gul
10. Abdur Rehman
11. Saeed Ajmal
Imran Farhat, Taufeeq Umar, Asad Shafiq, Tanvir Ahmed, Mohammad Sami,
This is a good summary from cricinfo:
Whistleblowers in any walk of life face being discredited. They are marginalised, lose their jobs, and may experience personal danger. They are quickly dismissed as attention seekers and scandalmongers. Zulqarnain might turn out to be either of these but for now he deserves understanding. It takes guts, extreme provocation, or both, to walk out on an international career, something you have worked all your life for and dreamed every night about.
Team for test matches from squad:
1. Mohammad Hafeez
2. Azhar Ali
3. Misbah Ul-Haq
4. Umar Akmal
5. Mohammad Yousuf
6. Asad Shafiq
7. Adnan Akmal
8. Wahab Riaz
9. Umar Gul
10. Abdul Rehman
11. Saeed Ajmal
Imran Farhat, Taufeeq Umar, Tanvir Ahmed, Mohammad Sami
Wasim, you also seem to imply that some of the ODI’s may have been fixed. Obviously Pakistan won the 2nd and 4th ODI.
The fifth ODI was a batting collapse from Younis and Yousuf – who are completly clean. I think Fawad Alam is also clean. All the other players seemed to perform well.
3rd ODI was too close to be fixed.
1-Why did he chose to go to England? Why not Pakistan?
Let’s be honest Wasim – are you comparing the safety in Pakistan to the safety in England. If he feels threatened enough to risk his whole international career, then he obviously doesn’t want to take any chances – these bookies are also based in Pakistan and India.
2-He is not a genuine match winner hence he is not important for the bookies. Why the threat wasn’t issued to Razzaq, Akhtar or any other star player.
Threats may have been issued to other players and they may be match fixers. However, this is unlikely – they might have ignored threats. We know for definite Afridi is not involved otherwise Afridi would have asked Zulqarnain to fix.
3-Why the management handed him over his passport and copy of the visa and why did they lied to the press.
He had no visa because he was detained by immigration upon arrival. The passport issue has already been explained by the SIM card and this has been confirmed by Haider.
4-Why Haider had no confidence in the tour management team, and chose to escape secretly?
If he told the tour management, they may have insisted he plays the 5th ODI anyway and that they would arrange security. They may also have insisted upon him staying in Dubai/Pakistan – he obviously doesn’t feel safe here.
5-A day before the 5th match Intikhab Alam told a few reporters that the management was contemplating to play Umar Akmal as a wicket keeper to strengthen the batting, if Haider wasn’t in the plans their was no justification of any threats.
As a bookie, if the player plays then you have him under control. If not, it doesn’t matter.
6- No 24 year old player runs away to another country because of a threatening email or SMS unless they identify the threatening party and the seriousness behind the threat.
Not knowing the threatening party and the seriousness makes it even worse – he is fearing for the safety of his family because of it.
This write up sums up the opinion on a lot of Pakistan’s cricket at the moment – there is little or no trust in much that they do.
There are certainly more questions than answers on this latest incident. It is true that a player shouldn’t just pack his bags and flee in this manner. I can’t believe it has anything to do with Akmal replacing him behind the stumps, if it is, then thats shocking from Haider.
I get the feeling there is something a lot more sinister to all this, this could be the incident that exposes the whole thing. If he is on the run for refusing to carry out orders from a cricket betting syndicate, then why (as you said) does he not feel safe with his team?
Could it be that the level of involvement from players or management is far more prevalent than we had ever believed? It could explain some of his comments (like I cannot sell out the dignity and respect of my motherland) and it could explain why he feels he has to escape his from teammates.
Watch this space because I feel that this one will run and run.