Spot Fixing?

[Dimi]

I am 99% sure that most of ( if not all ) the PCB will resign as soon as this series is finished

They won't, none of them will resign. It's the players (including the innocent ones) who will take the full rap for this. Some careers will be (rightly) ruined, others will be unfairly so, but the inhabitants of the PCB offices will live on in their roles, waiting for the next disaster.

[SaintPowelly]

I think Hampshire should be investigated, for the following reasons :

we collapse almost every week
we get teams 7 down and yet they add another 200
Cork bowls alot of no balls

[Alviro Patterson]

I think Yorkshire should be investigated for their final match against Kent, collapsing from 88-1 to 130 all out in the 2nd innings is very suspect.

I also think Nottinghamshire should be investigated in their game against Yorkshire, no way a team who topped the league could possibly be all out for 56 in their 1st innings.

[Dimi]

I think Hampshire should be investigated, for the following reasons :

we collapse almost every week
we get teams 7 down and yet they add another 200
Cork bowls alot of no balls

Sean Ervine bowls a lot of dross.
We score slowly against some bowlers.
Bates is always out bowled (always!).
Lumb is always out LBW.
We give Ervine a lot of overs.
We never bowl Dawson.

To be honest we could make a killing at the bookies on Hampshire when they play.

[SaintPowelly]

I think Hampshire should be investigated, for the following reasons :

we collapse almost every week
we get teams 7 down and yet they add another 200
Cork bowls alot of no balls

Sean Ervine bowls a lot of dross.
We score slowly against some bowlers.
Bates is always out bowled (always!).
Lumb is always out LBW.
We give Ervine a lot of overs.
We never bowl Dawson.

To be honest we could make a killing at the bookies on Hampshire when they play.

[yuppie]

Some more info coming from the BBC today about Butts claims

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket ... 014448.stm

I cant see the series being called of, but i think it is now time for it to happen.

The PCB Chairman has just accused the English team of being paid to throw a match. That is one big accustation, and really i cant see how the ECB can operate in this situation. I know its all about money, but insulting the home team that has had to put up with alot this summer through no fault of their own is probably a step to far, even for the ECB. Just say thanks for coming this summer, time for you to go. And before you ask, no we wont host any more neutral games for you.

And if in the unlikely chance Butt is right, show the evidence, and still call of the series. As then both teams are corrupt and the results mean nothing, not that they have meant much anyway.

[DeltaAlpha]

I agree, yuppie, the series should be called off, but I don't see it happening either. I'm not actually sure that I want to watch today's match...

[yuppie]

DA i certainly have lost all interest in this series, and the only thing that keeps catching my eye is all this spot fixing speculation. Im starting to wonder if cricket is even being played. According to that BBC article, England are not happy about these comments. Perhaps the England players should just refuse to play after being accused of cheating. I mean really whats the point of these two games now.

[DeltaAlpha]

Apparently Butt's now saying he didn't say what he's quoted as saying. Funny, I thought I saw a video of him saying it on Breakfast a couple of hours ago...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket ... 014448.stm

[yorker_129-7]

And so the desperate back-peddling and arse-covering begins...

Pakistan cricket really is an absolute basket case at the moment.

[D/L]

...The PCB Chairman has just accused the English team of being paid to throw a match. That is one big accustation...

Actually, I don’t think he has.

“There is talk in [insert profession] circles that [insert innuendo]” is a well known way of suggesting wrongdoing without leaving oneself liable to a legal action for slander. How could anyone prove that there hadn’t been such talk amongst an unidentified group of bookies? Mr. Butt is on safe ground here, I think.

With people like him in charge though, it is hardly any wonder that Pakistan cricket is in the state it is. This morning, on the BBC TV news, not only did he not provide direct answers to questions, he uttered an expletive in the middle of what can best be described as an incoherent rant.

The impression given is that Mr. Butt is lashing out because of the action taken against his own players; action that would seem to be entirely justified on the evidence provided; evidence that makes many people think the players are as guilty as a puppy sat next to a pile of poo. It seems that Mr. Butt is desperate that Pakistan cricket should not be taking nearly all the flak for the dishonesty that people see in the game. His words and his actions, however, seem only to give additional credence to the perception.

It is too late to cancel today’s game, but the 5th ODI should be cancelled and people refunded their ticket money. Let the entire team, and all its officials, get the first plane home tomorrow.

[SaintPowelly]

It is too late to cancel today’s game, but the 5th ODI should be cancelled and people refunded their ticket money. Let the entire team, and all its officials, get the first plane home tomorrow.

Thats unfair on Hampshire though, who will lose tens of thousands of pounds if the game doesn't go ahead

[D/L]

I’d be in favour of their being compensated, SP. Who pays ultimately could be decided later, but in the meantime, the ECB could put their hand in their pocket and look upon it as the price of a valuable lesson learned about which teams to invite to tour.

[SaintPowelly]

I’d be in favour of their being compensated, SP. Who pays ultimately could be decided later, but in the meantime, the ECB could put their hand in their pocket and look upon it as the price of a valuable lesson learned about which teams to invite to tour.

I agree with that, but we all know that it won't happen..because money dictates everything.

A reporter from a newspaper was on Sky Sports News the other day and he said that Rod Bransgrove was giving away the last few tickets we had left for free - because he didn't think they would sell.

They should have not played ANY of the ODIs - but if Pakistan win today and make the series 2-2 - both sides will want to play on Wednesday

[DeltaAlpha]

...The PCB Chairman has just accused the English team of being paid to throw a match. That is one big accustation...

Actually, I don’t think he has.

“There is talk in [insert profession] circles that [insert innuendo]” is a well known way of suggesting wrongdoing without leaving oneself liable to a legal action for slander. How could anyone prove that there hadn’t been such talk amongst an unidentified group of bookies? Mr. Butt is on safe ground here, I think.

The crafty old so-and-so! I should have spotted that...