Recent problems, such as Shahid Afridi’s ban, Shoaib and Asif’s bans / injuries and the failure to get through to the group stages of the World Cup have led to a shambolic state of affairs, which have been finished off by the resignation of captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, not to mention most of the PCB.

Nasim Ashraf, chairman of the PCB for only five months, tendered his resignation yesterday to General Pervez Musharraf, president of Pakistan and chief patron of the PCB. Ashraf was appointed chairman after Shaharyar Khan resigned in October. Former Pakistan wicketkeeper Wasim Bari, chairman of selectors, followed by resigning on behalf of his three-man committee, who accepted collective responsibility for Pakistan’s dismal showing.

(source)

As inquiries into and the speculation over the death of Bob Woolmer continue (natural? suicide? murder?Some people even think it’s to do with match-fixing), one thing is abundantly clear – Pakistan have a chance now to rebuild their side and do it right. With so many empty spots and being in such a low position, they should have no fear in being committed and asserted in what they need to do. Overhaul everything. They have the opportunity to look at what has worked and what hasn’t, identify the areas which caused the problems and start over and do it right.

They have a core squad of very talented players and now is the time to galvanise that squad in to a match-winning, not a match-fixing, team. From the smouldering remains of the Pakistan cricket team and the heartache that surrounds the death of Bob Woolmer, it must be possible and is fundamentally important that something positive comes of it all. There could be no better tribute to Bob if in four years time, Pakistan lifted the World Cup again.

Post from: EveryJoe

Time for a new Pakistan

It’s an incredible situation, but not in a good way. Further tests on his body will aim to clarify, but to think that Woolmer may have been murdered (or committed suicide) is just a horrific thing which I sincerely hope is not true. But considering how seriously some Pakistani people take their cricket, I suppose anything is possible.

Nobody wants to see Bob Woolmer’s name dragged about the media for months to come, but it is vital that the events surrounding his death are uncovered and made clear in order that his name can be remembered and honoured in the best possible way.

Post from: EveryJoe

Bob Woolmer’s death suspicious

At one point, the players left the field for rain and bad light, which would have been enough to seal the victory had they not come back. Fortunately they did return, giving Ireland the chance the win the game in they style they deserved and finish the embarassment job against Pakistan. In combination with Pakistan’s opening match loss to West Indies, they are as good as out of this competition, forcing them to leave the West Indies with their tail between their legs and the rumour mill already working hard that that will be the end of Bob Woolmer at the helm. Maybe even Inzy.

Ireland, however, are through to the Super Eight, and I can’t believe I picked it and even with the excellent odds, I didn’t put any money on it. More fool me. It’s unlikely they’ll progress beyond there, but then this competition has already shown to be completely open-ended.

But that was merely the start of crazy day, however, as India, arguably even more likely to win the competition than Pakistan, failed to negotiate Bangladesh, losing in equally humiliating circumstances. Again batting first, India managed only 191, where batting first was possibly a mistake, but the the Bangladeshi men dealt with the total for the loss of just 5 wickets. Tamim Iqbal was the man in form who crashed 53 from 51 balls, and it wasn’t a bunch of half-chances and fluke boundaries. India’s bowlers were dispatched to all parts of the ground in a masterclass presentation of one day batting. India looked lost in the field, and even as the required runs got smaller and smaller, the Indian men still had no intensity in their play as they meandered around the field. They had given up and it was just a matter of Bangladesh hitting the runs. I almost expected the bowlers to start dishing it out under arm. India will still expect to progress to the next round, but a loss against Bangladesh will hopefully be a wake up call they sorely need.

This World Cup is rapidly getting interesting.

Post from: EveryJoe

The Curse of the Irish?

“We have told (ECB chairman) David Morgan that we are willing to play a one-dayer next summer in England and revenues earned from that game after deducting expenses can be taken as compensation.”

Admittedly, I don’t know how a profit share of International matches usually works but this idea of a match really seems to be moot, especially as they say “after expenses” – that is, “as long as it doesn’t cost us anything, you can have anything you want.”

Pakistan continue to make the situation worse.

Their position is (for them, at least) perfectly simple. Darrell Hair’s removal from the board vindicates their stance that he was to blame for the Ovalgate affair ever occurring – had he not been in the wrong, then they would not have forfeited the game. Which is obviously complete nonsense. Darrell Hair never said “you’re cheating therefore you will forfeit the game”, instead, he implied they were cheating, deducted a measly 5 runs and in the process, it seems, insulted the whole of the sub-continent. The fact remains, though, that it was entirely the actions of the Pakistan side that resulted in the forfeiture, by refusing to return to the pitch they forced the forfeiture of the game, and that is the question surrounding the compensation claims. This fact is entirely supported by Inzamam’s ban for bringing the game in to disrepute. Had the Pakistani’s responded to the situation in the proper fashion, that is, continue playing and address their concerns after the match, then it would never have been forfeited and this whole ugly mess would never have gotten quite so out of hand.

All this does is add to a long procession of incidents involving the Pakistani side and management, which really calls in to question their integrity (something which was ultimately at the heart of the whole problem). In being so determined to prove their innocence, all they’ve really done is confirm that they are, for want of a better expression, “a loose cannon”. Their handling of the situation was from the very start awful, they’ve since had two players banned for drug use, they held the ICC to ransom over Darrell Hair, they’re refusing to pay compensation, the list goes on.

Maybe Pakistan now feel they’re backed in to a corner and so have raised their heckles. It seems the support from India and Sri Lanka is (understandably) diminishing and they’re on their own to fight their battles. I’m not saying they should capitulate, but this situation only continues to worsen due to their selfish actions.

Post from: EveryJoe

Pakistan continue to take the piss

The charges of ball-tampering against Inzamam Ul Haq were today repudiated as ICC “judge” Sanjan Madugalle decided there was insufficient evidence to uphold the charge. However, he did find Inzy guilty of bringing the game into disrepute after twice refusing to bring his players out to the field. For this offence, he was banned for 4 ODI’s. It seems sense has prevailed. Or has it?

Whilst the ruling makes sense – it’s what most people have been saying since the whole ugly mess transpired – after all, there is no evidence that the ball was tampered with, but, by defending Pakistan’s honour in not returning to the field, Inzy was breaking one of the Golden Rules of cricket – the umpire is always right. The judgement seems sensible, and fair. Inzy has the right to appeal, and I sincerely hope he doesn’t use that right.

However, Pakistan have failed to let the issue drop. Shariya Khan who made the whole situation worse by sticking his oar in at any available opportunity, has disclosed that the PCB have approached the ICC to investigate Hair and claims that his actions brought the game in to disrepute. Seriously. Pakistan already have part of their wish, that is, Hair will not stand in any games at next month’s ICC Champions Trophy, and it seems increasingly likely that he’ll never officiate in a Pakistan game again. And probably not India. And probably not Sri Lanka.

The PCB really need to know when to step back and let this whole thing die. Chasing Hair further won’t achieve anything. Inzy agrees:

Inzamam himself told Pakistan TV: “The whole nation has supported our decision. This was a matter of respect for our team and country. We fought for what we thought was right. Team’s reputation in the past hasn’t been great and so this was important. It was important to register our protest becuase if we didn’t then it wouldn’t have gotten this far even and now it has been proved we are not guilty of ball tampering. This is a victory for Pakistan.

So they’ve found the good in the bad, can they please place a gagging order on Khan.

Post from: EveryJoe

Inzy found not guilty and also guilty

Post from: EveryJoe

Ovalgate inquiry gets under way

And, in a cruel twist of fate, where will the hearing be held? The Oval, where it all kicked off. Ought to be an interesting few days.

Post from: EveryJoe

Inzy to learn fate by Friday

Andrew Strauss has done the usual losing-England-captain-state-the-obviousspiel “We didn’t play to our full potential”, “We need to win”, “We can do better”, “World Cup is not far away” yahda yahda yahda. When is someone going to tell it how it really is?

“We suck. I don’t know why, but we’re sh*t in the one day game. Haven’t got a clue.”

That would at least be assuring to the public that they’re know they’re rubbish and there’s work to do, rather than the empty promises of “we will get better”.

But meanwhile, Pakistan have missed an opportunity and instead doing the PC thing:

“We have been playing well in this series so far and the win at Lord’s comes as a great relief,” Inzamam told The News. “But there are still three matches to go and the series is wide open. We will have to continue playing well to win it. We have so far been better than them in bowling, batting and even fielding,” he said. “But I believe England is a very capable side and the fact that they are playing in front of home fans can help them to make a comeback in the next games.”

What a load of nonsense. That game was not wide open. It couldn’t have been more narrowly closed if it tried. Pakistan whooped England’s sorry arse soundly and Pakistan should be gloating about it WWE-style. Come on Inzy, we know you’re not a man who’s worried about making a scene, or causing a stir, so tell it how it is:

“We were amazing. The best one day team in the world right now. Our two opening bowlers would cause anyone discomfort, and out batting order is second to none. Oh, and by the way, England are sh*t.”

That would at least be more interesting than the cricket.

Post from: EveryJoe

Rubbish cricket, but man they’re polite

Stuart Broad on debut got a useful 2fer with a first ball scalp of Younis Khan. And although the kid looks about 12 (even though he’s 20), it’s pretty clear he’s got a promising England career ahead of him. And at 6′6″ and still growing (he’s projected to be 6′9″) he’ll make a worthy bowling partner to Steve Harmison. Assuming Harmy can get over his injury. When Shahid Afridi made it to the wicket, on Broad’s hat-trick ball, rather than a sensible block or dab, Afridi heaved the youngster back over his head. And he didn’t look like stopping, spanking Mahmood for 22 off his first over. Afridi finally departed, after scoring 28 of just 10 balls, an astonishing strike rate of 275. Not before a smirk of irony breached my face – Afridi put a Mahmood long hop out of the small Bristol ground which meant a box of balls had to be brought in to find a replacement. Fortunately, before one could be chosen the original had been retrieved, and although undoubtedly scratched and scruffed from its brutal treatment, they continued using it.

From there, the game was won, and all Pakistan had to do was run it out. Which they did. Comfortably. England’s newbies had a good day, but Darren Gough’s triumphant comeback was hardly the triumphant comeback he (or most people) would have wanted. No, 8 wickets and a brisk 50 would have been much better. It was not to be though. KP’s failure was no doubt an embarassment for him – perhaps the hype of being England’s lynchpin is getting the better of him.

A 5 match one day series of proper cricket kicks off on Wednesday at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff.

Post from: EveryJoe

England get stuffed

Quite how this has angered the whole sub-continent, though, is quite beyond me. Whilst controversial, you can’t argue with the fact that Hair was simply doing his job. Yes, the question over evidence of ball tampering is still up in the air, but that’ll be resolved one way or the other sooner or later. But after the accusations was made, the penalty runs were added and the ball switched, Hair did conduct himself professionally. He stuck to the law – the laws that govern the game of Cricket as we know it – and did things by the book. Inzy, Pakistan, and now Sri Lanka and potentially India, are arguably in the wrong to think they can boycott the system on these grounds, much less accuse Hair of being racist.

Surely such accusations are on a par with Hair implying that Pakistan are cheating? Both parties have history – Pakistan have previously been charged with ball tampering, Hair has previously been involved with dodgy decisions whilst umpiring in the sub-continent.

Regardless, Hair has said he’ll keep umpiring as long as the ICC want him. Whether they buckle under the pressure and say that he won’t umpire in any matches involving the sub-continent remains to be seen. Hopefully, though, the ICC won’t be listening to Dick French, former Australian umpire when deciding which matches he will stand in. When commenting on whether Hair should officiate or not, he shrewdly observed that:

“He can’t umpire Australia as a neutral, so he can’t then just umpire South Africa, the West Indies and England for the rest of his career.”

(link)

I’m guessing New Zealand will be thrilled to know the least of their worries will be the umpires, considering it seems they’ve been booted out of the International arena by Mr French.

Post from: EveryJoe

Hair today, gone tomorrow?