Pakistan lost 14 wickets in a day at Lord's, which means that they are bound to lose both the fourth Test and the series against England, but last night this seemed to be the least of their concerns.

The Pakistan camp was subjected to allegations of corruption by the News of the World. The paper claims that a middle-man, Mazhar Majeed, had accepted £150,000 and it is alleged that in return the Pakistan pace bowlers, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir, delivered no-balls on purpose at preordained moments in the match.

Asif said: "I have spoken to the management and they have told us something happened, but not what. The management will tell us more later. We are 100% focused on the match tomorrow."

Yawar Saeed, the Pakistan tour manager, said: "I can confirm that we are aware of the allegations and Scotland Yard police are with us now at the hotel and we are helping them with their enquiries."

The practice is widely dubbed as "match-fixing", but the term "spot‑fixing" would be more accurate. Occasional no-balls are unlikely to affect the outcome of a match, but if delivered to order they can make huge sums of money for those participating in the illegal betting syndicates of the subcontinent.

Even so, these are extremely serious allegations in a sport that has agonised over match-fixing since Hansie Cronje, the former South African captain, publicly acknowledged that he had taken money from illegal bookmakers in 2000.

Pakistan players have always been under scrutiny. Several investigations have been launched though none have admitted to wrongdoing in the manner of Cronje. However, in 2000, a former captain, Salim Malik, was banned for life by the Pakistan authorities after allegations of match-fixing. The ban was rescinded in 2008.

The News of the World, who also named other players, has passed on their evidence to Scotland Yard and police were interviewing members of the Pakistan tour party last night.

Asif and the precocious 18-year-old Amir have spent most of the summer tormenting Australian and English batsmen. On Friday Amir wrecked England's upper order by taking four wickets for no runs as England were reduced to 47 for five.

During that innings Amir took his 50th Test wicket in his 14th match, thereby becoming the youngest cricketer in the history of the game to reach that landmark. A glittering career was predicted by all onlookers, the only proviso being that he stayed fit. Now another more menacing proviso has surfaced.

The News of the World alleges that Amir delivered no-balls just as Majeed had predicted; for example with the first ball of the third over of the innings. It is true that Amir has overstepped in this match by a margin that caused commentators on television and radio to express their surprise.

Fast bowlers have always been prone to overstep; it is an occupational hazard, but usually they do so by an inch or two. It was striking that on several occasions Amir overstepped by six or eight inches, a remarkable distance given how rhythmically Amir had been bowling throughout most of England's innings.

If it can be proven that Amir bowled these no-balls to order then the career of one of the most brilliant young cricketers in the world could be in jeopardy. Moreover, Pakistan's capacity to go beyond the sports pages has been confirmed yet again.

The final Test of the 2006 series at The Oval against England ended in chaos when Pakistan refused to take the field after tea on the fourth day because the umpire Darrell Hair had implicated that they were tampering with the ball. The match was abandoned and eventually awarded to England.

This episode is potentially even more damaging to a cricket team, already denied the chance to play cricket in their own country because of the threat of terrorism. It is assumed that the Lord's Test will continue this morning and that England, who expect play to go ahead as scheduled, will win. But it will be a victory that no one will feel inclined to celebrate.

See what I posted in WGMG. Fuck Pakistani Cricket. Fuck them for everything they've done to ruin Cricket. Ban the country from all international cricket for atleast 2 years. Don't let them back in till they've completely overhauled the administration, and weeded out every single filthy, greedy prick who has done this. So fucking pissed off right now.

If it was just pay, that would be even stupider. The players are earning what, 50-100k from the matchfixing? They'll earn triple that in the IPL, at least. It's not just about pay, it's deeply rooted in their system as a whole.

The thing about this though is that Salum Butt has always came across as a clean skin and one of the most respected Pakistani players world wide, and that he is the supposed ring leader in all of this just makes things worse... like it'd come to no suprise if the Akmal's are involved but Butt to be is a massive hit.

What's worse is that Mohammed Amir has been caught up in this. The amazing talent he was showing has now all gone to waste, either because of his own greed, or his team mates. It's pathetic.

yesterday became the fastest test match player to reach 50 test wickets... a career that promises so much could go down the toilet rather quickly, he's such a great talent and he could be stuffed now... but has he done this of his own accord or has he done so under the command of his captain? the details are only vague and were only going off hersay but the footage doesn't look good at all

I would hope he did so under the orders of his captain, but even then, he could have refused, etc.

Asif is apparently in on it as well, which doesn't surprise me at all.

Asif is apparently in on it as well, which doesn't surprise me at all.

AFP

A Pakistani lawyer on Monday filed treason charges against national cricket team players facing an investigation into claims they fixed matches for money in England, he said.

Ahmed said his case will be heard in Lahore High court on Tuesday.

"In my petition to the court I've said that this spot-fixing amounts to dishonesty to the nation and falls under the law of treason," said Ahmed.

"The suspected players have let the whole nation down and abrogated the constitution of the country and if they are proven guilty they should be banned for life and their assets confiscated," lawyer Ishtiaq Ahmed told AFP.

Seven Pakistan national team players face a police investigation over the spot-fixing scandal which surfaced on Sunday in a British newspaper - News of the World.

Police have arrested and released on bail a man on allegations of conspiracy to defraud bookmakers.

Mazhar Majeed allegedly paid money to Pakistani players to under-perform during the fourth and final Test against Lord's, which Pakistan lost by an innings on Sunday.

Treason in Pakistan carries the death penalty.

They have not produced a decent performance in a long time and have become the world whipping boys of cricket.

The players found guilty should be banned for minimum 5 years. Pakistan should be banned from the game for 2 years.

Zimbabwe has done nothing wrong in world cricket yet they get ostracised and pakistan get to play home games in england.

Easy to overstep the mark when players' families' lives are at stake
Geoff Lawson
August 31, 2010

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People have been quick to judge the Pakistani cricketers, but what is happening might have nothing to do with money.

If these allegations of fixing are proved, it could be related to extortion, threats, and the well-being of their own family members. It would not surprise me if illegal bookmakers have told players that if they do not perform X and Y, their families will be kidnapped or harmed.

In my time as Pakistan coach, I gained some incredible insights into the workings of the country and the team, and I'll never forget the time the team captain called me up to his room on the eve of a match.

Earlier that day, a player who we had not selected for the game approached me, saying: ''I was told I would be playing tomorrow.'' My response was, ''Well no, you're not, you've obviously been given the wrong information.''

Then the skipper of the side called me late in the evening. I went to his room and he was standing there with a very sombre-looking selector.

This selector said: ''We must pick [the player who had earlier approached me], I have been told that if he is not in the team tomorrow, my daughter will be kidnapped and I will not see her again.''

At first we both laughed, but then we realised he was being serious. Our chairman then called the president, Pervez Musharraf, who in turn phoned the people behind the threats and said they had better reconsider or else. The next we heard the matter had been resolved.

We must also remember that we are judging these guys by the standards of our own country, when their situations are vastly different.

The first time I met Mohammad Amir was when he was 16 years old, coming to an under-19s camp. He comes from a small village near the Swat valley and was delayed by three hours because the Taliban had closed the highway. That doesn't happen in this country. One thing that struck me about Amir was his constant smile, his zest for the game. That has not changed.

I will never condone any form of fixing, but we should consider that a cricketer might not be thinking of personal gain but of getting money to buy a generator for his village because they don't have electricity.

I had a lot to do with Mohammad Asif and he was always missing training sessions to look after his sick mother. He has spent a lot of his money on looking after his family.

If Salman Butt is involved in any match-fixing, I would be absolutely stunned. He is a very intelligent, polite guy and has done well since taking over the team.

I cannot remember one incident in my time as coach of Pakistan that aroused suspicion of a fix.

I had my eye on it when Asif and Shoaib Akhtar had come back from their nandrolone bans. We had a meeting about match-fixing and spot-fixing.

We were pretty consistent during my tenure. The players knew there were financial rewards for performing well.

My first reaction to this latest news was sadness. These are people I know, people I call friends. This will probably be the end of some careers.

I don't think Pakistan should be banished. We have seen them survive some incredible on- and off-field turmoil. You shouldn't throw the baby out with the bathwater.

But I will say that the present Pakistan administration cannot escape some of the blame for this. What they need right now is positive leadership and they don't have it. The Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, Ijaz Butt, is not a leader, he should not have the job.

When I was there, the board did not have people with vested interests, they were business people who treated people fairly. The first-class players were looked after and paid well and it made a difference.

It would be the greatest tragedy if a young man like Aamer has been led astray.

that's not completley true, the test match wins against England and earlier Australia at Leeds was really good cricket, both bowling and batting was strong, there just not consistent enough and mentally there not the strongest... and depending on how deep this runs to wether there fixing results although i don't think it's going that bad

don't get me started, politcal influence dating back to Heath Streak affair (arguably Zimbabwe's best player) when he was sacked by ZC, financial payments to players not being made... then you've got people inside the administration being hired and fired on race... selections of players based on the race of a player, not being able to host matches by guaranteeing safety of visiting players and teams boycotting tours based on political grounds... oh no they've done nothing wrong at all :roll:

as a test playing nation though, their standard has been shocking overall

those internal affairs affected us quite badly, i will agree. but zim cricket has never jeaopordised the game on a whole or brought it into disrepute like this. name me one team that has toured zimbabwe and not been safe. this whole safety nonsense is bullshit. its unsafer goin to india or pakistan but we still go there even though bombings take place right before our eyes.

ok yes for a short period zim cricket was in a poor shape, but they have changed things. the whole security argument is crap. its made up by england for their hate towards mugabe and its total utter crap. even now, they on their way back up and making positive signs, but still not getting the support from the cricketing.

pakistan are bringing the game into disrepute, yet keep getting away, zimbabwes crime is corrupt government, fullstop. the icc are a load of crap and this is bullshit.

[size=6]Four Pakistan cricketers 'unlikely' to finish tour[/size]

Four Pakistan cricketers under scrutiny for claims of spot-fixing are unlikely to play again on the current England tour, the BBC understands.

The BBC's Pat Murphy said the four may lack the mental focus required to play.

The International Cricket Council is preparing a report, while police carry out a separate criminal investigation.

The four players, who have not been suspended but have been questioned by the police, are Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Asif and Kamran Akmal.

However, the ICC has since confirmed that Akmal is no longer part of the Scotland Yard investigation, although Murphy stressed that he was not saying that the wicketkeeper had been cleared of any wrongdoing.

Murphy added that the ICC was concerned about banning the four players based on a newspaper expose and an incomplete investigation from Scotland Yard, and therefore wanted to receive the findings from the anti-corruption unit urgently.

The results are expected within days.

The anti-corruption unit's representatives are now in the UK, while the Pakistani government is sending members of its equivalent organisation to work with Scotland Yard. An ICC news conference has now been pencilled in for Thursday.

Murphy told BBC Radio 5 live: "A conference call between Pakistan high commissioner [Wajid Shamsul Hasan] and chairman of the cricket board [Ijaz Butt], who are in London, and sports minister [Ijaz Hussain Jakhrani] in Islamabad will take place on Tuesday.

"And given the importance of cricket in Pakistan, the prime minister [Yusuf Raza Gilani] may also be directly involved in the discussions.

"Although the players will still be deemed to be innocent until proven guilty, it's almost certain they will taken out of the firing line and the formula of words citing mental pressure and a lack of necessary focus, will necessitate their withdrawal from the Twenty20 matches and the one-day series."

ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat told BBC Radio 5 live that the intention is to conclude the investigation before the start of the first of two Twenty20 internationals against England, in Cardiff on Sunday.

The ICC has also stated that Pakistan's tour of England will carry on - they are due to play Somerset in a tour match from Thursday.

President Sharad Pawar said it was the "desire of the ICC and the cricket boards of England and Pakistan that the game should continue".

Lorgat added: "The reputation of the game has been tarnished and it is something we must make right. There is no question that people's confidence will have been swayed.

"We're busy with the Metropolitan Police and hope, before the weekend arrives, we can get to some sort of a conclusion.

"We are working hard, but it's important to remember that an individual is innocent until proven guilty.

"I'm in touch with the investigators. It's likely I might have to come across to London. But this is a live issue which moves with the hour, every hour.

"At the moment, it is appropriate that the game continues. We shouldn't let everyone suffer because of a couple of individuals that might have got caught up in corrupt practices.

"The vast majority of players are not guilty of any such behaviour. They play the sport in the right spirit, and there are many fans who want to watch the game.

"We shouldn't let a couple of individuals, a few players, bring the entire game to a standstill."

Test captain Butt, fast bowlers Amir and Asif and wicketkeeper Akmal were questioned by police at the team's hotel in London on Sunday following a report that some Pakistan players had been bribed to fix incidents during the fourth Test against England at Lord's.

The allegations centred on three no-balls from Amir and Asif which the News of the World newspaper said had been bowled on purpose at pre-determined times to facilitate betting coups after a "middle man" accepted £150,000 in cash from an undercover reporter.

The man identified as the alleged go-between, cricket agent Mazhar Majeed, 35, has been released on police bail after being arrested on Saturday on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud bookmakers.

Mazhar also owns Croydon Athletic Football Club, who have released a statement saying they are "devastated and appalled to hear of the alleged match-fixing of international cricket matches by its owner Mazhar Majeed".

After their game against Somerset, Pakistan are due to play two Twenty20 internationals and five one-day internationals against England in September.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/england/8953417.stm

So is West Indies standard of play currently... dumping them for a poor standard of play is not the reason why you dump them... you can't tour on political grounds, it sets a standard that your fine with whats going on and after the election last year you couldn't tour anytime soon... Pakistan has hardly been toured over the past 5-6 years besides the ill fated Sri Lanka tour last year. India is different because they don't have political instability of nations like Zimbabwe and Pakistan although tensions between Pakistan and India have always been high and after the Mumbai Bombings in 2008 England returned home for a week while the whole series was rescheduled so that no matches were played that could be of a risk... it also doesn't help that India as now the most powerful cricket nation in the world

Doesn't FIFA ban nations when there FA's become politically influenced? the same has been done with Zimbabwe

Latest news is that seven players and officials are being hauled before the Pakistani courts and charged with treason.

And what's even crazier about that is that Treason can be punishable by death in Pakistan.

zimbabwes cricket board is not politically influenced contrary to all reports you may have read. i know this first hand....it was a case of a few corrup people getting drunk with power.

im saying pakistan have brought a poor standard of play to the game for soo long, and now they have this. its a culmination of things. im not saying ban them on performance basis.

so india who has no political instability but bombings, is ok to tour. yet zimbabwe which has greedy leaders, but it far safer than touring the sub-continent will ever be, is a risk. that is just the british govt bringing out their colonial hate and creating this nonsense.

touring zimbabwe is not on political grounds. you go there, play the cricket and then you leave. if the govt was to get involved, then its understandable, but the govt never got involved in zimbabwe.

fifa ban and punish whoever they want...they a different kettle of fish.