NAV20 From Australia, joined Nov 2003, 9165 posts, RR: 37 Posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 2655 times:
Tremendous piece of 'investigative journalism' by the 'News of the World.' They appear to have 'conned' a professional match-fixer by pretending to be potential customers - up to and including paying him 150,000 pounds to 'demonstrate his capabilities.'
The idiot fell for it in a big way - not only did he show them how he could arrange for Pakistani bowlers to deliver no-balls 'to order' - in an England-Pakistan Test Match that is still in progress at Lord's in London, the 'home of cricket'; he also boasted that the Pakistan team had completely 'fixed' the result of the Sydney Test Match against Australia las January. A deal from which the fixer and his mates made $A1.5M. or so.......
According to him, the way they 'fixed' the latter match was by taking advantage of a lot of Australian wickets falling early to get themselves bets at odds of 40-1 on Australia coming from behind and winning; then have the Pakistan team 'let Australia off the hook' by bowling and fielding badly, and finally throw their own wickets away so that they failed to reach even the small target that Australia had set them.
Make sure to watch the video near the top of the story through; it doesn't just describe the plots of the various scams, it actually shows two leading Pakistan bowlers delivering no-balls 'to order' in the current Lords Test. And seeing the eejit who blew the gaff literally counting his money as he incriminates himself is rare entertainment.
Honestly don't know where we go from here. Obviously the 'fixer' is likely to go to jail (without 'passing Go' ) and presumably the careers of several Pakistani players will shortly end. But one does wonder how far the 'ripples' from this incident will spread.
Apart from anything else, the current Lords Test (which is still in progress) has followed pretty well the same pattern as the Christmas Sydney Test. The home side starting badly, then 'recovering' (very possibly being allowed to recover) to a stronger position; and Pakistan then unaccountably folding and losing lots of quick wickets.
"Nav, do you want to put the Pakistan betting scam on here or start a new thread?
Amazing watching the deliveries that were "promised" and the commentary at the time. Ouch. Well I did say that K Akmal should have had man of the match for the Sydney test. Wow!"
NAV20 From Australia, joined Nov 2003, 9165 posts, RR: 37 Reply 2, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 2645 times:
Quoting Baroque (Reply 1): Well I did say that K Akmal should have had man of the match for the Sydney test.
From the (current) BBC text commentary on the Lords Test:-
"1111: WICKET - Ali b Swann 12 - Pakistan 63-5
Umar Akmal plays a sweet cut shot, before getting his partner back on strike. Now Swann bowls a good ball that turns into Ali and clips his off-stump. He was trying to defend that but was unable to get his bat down in time, it seems.
"1115: WICKET - Kamran Akmal c Prior b Anderson 1 - Pakistan 64-6
Pakistan going down in a heap yet again, I'm afraid. Anderson just seaming one away a a little bit, and that's far too good for the new man, Kamran Akmal."
For people who are less familiar with international cricket, each day's play normally begins at 11.00. Looks like the Pakistan players hope to get themselves out by about midday and then make a quick dash for Heathrow and a plane home.........
"Once you have flown, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards.." - Leonardo da Vinci
CPH-R From Denmark, joined May 2001, 5755 posts, RR: 4 Reply 4, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 2596 times:
Sadly, money talks, and for the Pakistani players who can't rely on the IPL as a good cash cow, money goes a very long way to secure themselves and their families. Especially if itsn't caught.
Makes you wonder how many other fixes have been put in..
NAV20 From Australia, joined Nov 2003, 9165 posts, RR: 37 Reply 5, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 2581 times:
Quoting CPH-R (Reply 5): Makes you wonder how many other fixes have been put in..
Apparently, according to the nutcase leaker Majeed, the arrangement was that Pakistan would play to lose two of the five ODIs (one-day internationals).
"He said: "Boss I'm telling you, the timing you've come into. It's perfect because the one days and Twenty20s are about to start and we're going to be making a hell of a lot money."
"Incredibly, he said he could guarantee Pakistan would LOSE two one-dayers.
"He explained many players want Test skipper Salman Butt to remain captain for all matches, but the Pakistanis have drafted in veteran Shahid Afridi to lead the side for the one day internationals and Twenty20 matches. Majeed said: "A lot of the boys want to f*** up Afridi because he's trying to f*** up things for them.
"They all want Butt to be captain. They want to lose anyway."
Cricket followers will recall that Shahid Afridi was stood down a while ago because the players complained that he was harming team morale. Sounds like he was merely trying to stop the cheating........
That guy Majeed had better hope that he gets a long custodial sentence. From now on he'll be a lot safer in prison than he will be anywhere else. And, again, what a fantastic piece of journalism.........
"Once you have flown, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards.." - Leonardo da Vinci
david_itl From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2001, 7168 posts, RR: 14 Reply 6, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 4 days 15 hours ago) and read 2562 times:
Have you seen the last entry on the Beeb's as it happened as linked above?
"Pakistan team manager Yawar Saeed: "As far as I'm concerned the one-day series is on." He adds that skipper Salman Butt and fast bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir have had their mobile phones confiscated."
Does not look too good. If it were possible to replace he ENG v PAK one-day series and Twenty20 with a ENG v Rest of World XI then they should do so. Otherwise, I would like to think they all those that may be involved should be suspended whilst investigations are going on.
Baroque From Australia, joined Apr 2006, 15380 posts, RR: 59 Reply 8, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 4 days 14 hours ago) and read 2530 times:
Wonder if they will continue with the ODIs. If they do, the attention paid to every little eccentricity from the Pakistan team will be something to behold. You could end up with a life sentence for missing a difficult catch.
I wonder if the real facts about John the bookmaker will ever emerge!!
comorin From United States of America, joined May 2005, 4724 posts, RR: 17 Reply 9, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 2488 times:
How sad...for a people ravaged by floods and terrorism, now a blow to national pride. I suppose any sport that drives betting, like Boxing, is exposed to the demands of big money bettors.
I wonder how deep this rot is among other countries' teams... tip of the iceberg?
Quoting CPH-R (Reply 7): You know it's a major scandal, when even Danish newspapers are carrying news stories about it
Because "Something is rotten in the State of Denmark" (Hamlet) ...
david_itl From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2001, 7168 posts, RR: 14 Reply 10, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 2470 times:
Didn't catch his name (Khaled Hussain?) but one of the editors (if not the chief editor) of The News - the biggest English language paper in Pakistan - has heard that there's up to 7 players implicated.
Baroque From Australia, joined Apr 2006, 15380 posts, RR: 59 Reply 11, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 4 days 2 hours ago) and read 2405 times:
The susceptibility to betting generated bribes could be related to the poor pay of the P players. But interestingly, they are among the more religious players around and "follow" a religion that is the most firmly opposed to betting of all religions that I know of. Yes I know Hansie C was also very religious, different religion, maybe similar problem.
scbriml From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2003, 11447 posts, RR: 50 Reply 13, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 2349 times:
While I'd like to believe it's quite hard for an 11-man team to throw a match, the rise of "in-play betting" makes it very easy for an individual player to become involved in such scams. If it's possible to bet that a precise ball of a specific over will be a no-ball, then it's easy to see how individual bowlers could be involved.
I don't see this at the same level a throwing a whole match as I'm sure the player(s) involved thinking is along the lines "One no-ball isn't going to change the game." For me the damning evidence was the massive amount by which these bowlers overstepped the line. But, one does start to wonder, if they're prepared to do this, what else are they prepared to do?
NAV20 From Australia, joined Nov 2003, 9165 posts, RR: 37 Reply 14, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 3 days 16 hours ago) and read 2325 times:
Quoting Springbok747 (Reply 12): What I find Amusing is that Zardari is asking for an investigation, guess he wants to make sure he got the right percentage of the cut....
As it happened I watched Pakistan's second innings at Sydney live on TV and couldn't believe the number of false shots they played (chasing only about 150). And, from the excerpts I've seen, their second innings at Lords was in the same class - if 'class' is the right word.......... No two ways about it, all the evidence suggests that the Lords business wasn't just a matter of a few no-balls, they 'threw' the whole match.
Quoting scbriml (Reply 13): it's easy to see how individual bowlers could be involved
In that particular case there's no doubt in my mind that the captain was involved as well. How else could the 'eejit' have known who was going to be bowling which over before play even started?
Quoting scbriml (Reply 13): But, one does start to wonder, if they're prepared to do this, what else are they prepared to do?
Pretty hard-hitting article here, that rather puts the issue 'in context':-
"No one should be surprised that players take dirty money from illegal bookmakers, given the game's administrators cuddle up to corruption.
"Before any players are brought to account following the latest damning allegations against members of the Pakistan team, the representatives of the 10 Test-playing countries on the International Cricket Council should be investigated.
"This incompetent and, in some cases, despicable rabble are destroying the game.
"The ICC's anti-corruption unit, which costs millions of dollars a year, has been shown up by the News of the World newspaper.
------------------
"Among the most significant problems cricket faces fighting corruption is the pittance most of the players from the dominant Afro-Asia bloc are paid.
"Any Australian player in the Test and one-day team is on at least $1 million a year, rising to about $2m, leaving no incentive for corruption.
"Dean Jones believes Pakistani players are on about $35,000, making them obvious targets.
"Any players found guilty of corruption must be dealt with severely, but what about the administrators who have created an atmosphere for it to flourish?"
---------------------
"And what of the audit that the Australian Speed instituted against Zimbabwe?
"The ICC - which trumpets openness, honesty and integrity as its core values - still refuses to release it two years later.
"Don't like an umpire? No problems.
"Sack him, like Australian Darrell Hair when he awarded a Test against Pakistan for refusing to play after reporting the team for ball tampering.
"Or West Indian Steve Bucknor, dumped mid-series when India spat the dummy after losing a tense Sydney Test three years ago.
"Don't like a presidential candidate?
"Trash the ICC's presidential electoral system with a clandestine meeting of the Afro-Asia bloc then refuse to say why John Howard was rejected or take a formal vote.
"Let Zimbabwe destroy cricket at all levels just so its president, Peter Chingoka, can stay in power. Then let him keep his snout in the trough containing millions of ICC dollars by retaining Zimbabwe as a full Test nation, even though it hasn't played one for five years.
"Chingoka is the most despicable man at the ICC board table. He is a "shocker", according to one former ICC official forced to deal with him."
Baroque From Australia, joined Apr 2006, 15380 posts, RR: 59 Reply 15, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 3 days 16 hours ago) and read 2318 times:
Quoting scbriml (Reply 13): it's quite hard for an 11-man team to throw a match
A keeper batsman would be in the best individual position aside from the captain????
Someone suggested this afternoon that the best way for our ABC to assist the flood victims would be to take the couple of million they raised in an appear and bet it on the Pakistan team to lose their next game. Surely they would help with that project?
Quoting scbriml (Reply 13): if they're prepared to do this, what else are they prepared to do?
Indeed. And they know the side-on cameras are always on these days.
Easy to overstep the mark when players' families' lives are at stake
Geoff Lawson
August 31, 2010
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.
Scammers be damned: this plague must stop
Peter Roebuck
August 31, 2010
Actually Peter, I don't think that Henry suggests it continue!!!
In the printed version of the SMH is a pic by pic depiction of the reasons why K Akmal should have had the Player of the Match award for his consummate performance behind the stumps.
In Henry's column, it is interesting that Musharraf knew who to ring to stop a kidnapping. Makes you think. Lawson just goes higher and higher in my estimation. A remarkable man. The corruption will not be stopped unless its origins are addressed.
Sri Lanka is not exactly prosperous either, but have there been problems with SL? India we will leave out of the equation. It is not comparable. But it is still ironical that betting has struck at the country that officially frowns on betting in a way that no other cricket playing country does.
NAV20 From Australia, joined Nov 2003, 9165 posts, RR: 37 Reply 17, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 2193 times:
I suppose this is 'progress' of a sort:-
"A Pakistan court has summoned seven national cricket players, the country's sports minister and its cricket chief to face treason charges over fixing allegations in England.
"The chief justice of the High Court in the eastern city of Lahore said those under investigation in England - plus sports minister Ijaz Jakharani and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt - must appear on September 7.
"The seven national team players include Test captain Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Aamer, plus three unnamed players, who are all accused in the sting by British Sunday tabloid the News of the World.
"Local lawyer Ishtiaq Ahmed filed the treason case on Monday, calling for life bans and confiscation of all the players' assets if they are found guilty.
"The charge carries a maximum death penalty."
This bit of the story somewhat reduces the effect, though:-
'Meanwhile, Pakistan's cricket board said it will not suspend the players while investigations into the spot-fixing allegations in England are probed.'
Baroque From Australia, joined Apr 2006, 15380 posts, RR: 59 Reply 18, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 2188 times:
Quoting NAV20 (Reply 17): I suppose this is 'progress' of a sort:-
"A Pakistan court has summoned seven national cricket players, the country's sports minister and its cricket chief to face treason charges over fixing allegations in England.
Maybe but not if Henry is even half right. It is a bit like terrorism. Jailing the entire team and the selectors is a bit like declaring a war on terrorism. It is the betting industry that is the problem!!! Channel Nine for starters you could say with all the gratuitous inf on the odds during tests.
oly720man From United Kingdom, joined May 2004, 6226 posts, RR: 11 Reply 19, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 2185 times:
Anyone know who the loser(s) is/are in all this?? Someone, somewhere is putting bets on that particular ball will be a no ball. Who are they betting with/against? Private bets between individuals? Some mug somewhere has to put his money where is mouth is that these things won't happen.
Baroque From Australia, joined Apr 2006, 15380 posts, RR: 59 Reply 20, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 2 days 15 hours ago) and read 2180 times:
Quoting oly720man (Reply 19): Anyone know who the loser(s) is/are in all this??
Interesting question. You would think that folk would avoid dodgy bookies like the plague. But it is obviously a thriving business. As of course is the drug trade There the mugs are more easy to ID. With the bookies, harder to work out.
Match fixing raises its ugly head once again as an alleged Pakistani match fixer pockets millions and says that he fixed cricket matches in England and Australia.
Guests
Harsha Bhogle
Journalist and internationally acclaimed cricket commentator.
Malcolm Conn
Chief Cricket Writer for 'The Australian'
Interesting discussion. Available as a podcast. Unfortunate name for one of the guests you could say.
CPH-R From Denmark, joined May 2001, 5755 posts, RR: 4 Reply 21, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 2102 times:
Well, that's Butt, Asif and Amir out of the One-day squad. 5-0 whitewash incoming? With the loss of two of Pakistans frontline bowlers, I can easily imagine it.
Quoting Baroque (Reply 11): Yes I know Hansie C was also very religious, different religion, maybe similar problem.
I thought he only became 'born again' after he was banned? There's a docu of sorts of the whole match fixing saga on YouTube, which also has a fair bit about Hansie's personal life. I should probably go watch it again.
Baroque From Australia, joined Apr 2006, 15380 posts, RR: 59 Reply 22, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 2101 times:
Quoting CPH-R (Reply 21): I thought he only became 'born again' after he was banned?
I don't think so. A feature then, and quite probably now, of the SA team was prayers. He might have been born again again as it were after being banned, but I am pretty sure he was very religious before being found out.
Quoting CPH-R (Reply 21): I should probably go watch it again.
Let me know the result. I find it too dismal to watch!!!
Henry Lawson and the threats that he indicates are a point to be explored. It could be these guys are getting most unpleasant threats if they do not oblige.
But as was asked, who is being dumb enough to bet of games that have the fix in. Something does not add up. Mind it never does in the world of betting. I am always astonished at the number of acquaintances who bet and maintain they win. Makes you wonder what the bookies use for money to buy their Rollers!
I guess that's it - the tour's ruined and the 'echoes' will go on for years.
Must admit, the thing I'm saddest about is that Amir will probably never play test cricket again. From the first, he seemed to be one of those 'burning talents' that can lift the world game to new heights. What a pity........
"Once you have flown, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards.." - Leonardo da Vinci
BlueElephant From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2006, 1809 posts, RR: 6 Reply 24, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 2076 times:
Quoting NAV20 (Reply 23): "They are innocent and they are defending their innocence."
I'm sorry can someone tell me how they can be innocent...what they did was so obvious. The only way they can be innocent is if they were FORCED to do it by someone else...
As in...."We'll kill your family if you don't bowl a no-ball"
25 CPH-R: Oh dear. Butt, Amir & Asif banned by the ICC. Just breaking.
26 BlueElephant: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/england/8964408.stm The High Comissioner of Pakistan Cricket thinks the Video was recorded AFTER the match was
27 Baroque: They would have been well advised to put a copy in secure hands BEFORE the match, but did they?
28 NAV20: The solution's probably simpler than that. The first thing the British cops would have done, before arresting the 'eejit,' would have been to secure
29 david_itl: I wonder if anyone laid any spot-bets on Somerset v Glamorgan? Harrison of Glamorgan bowled his 8 overs for exactly 100 runs.
30 CPH-R: Hell, I wonder if the whole Derbyshire v Gloucestershire championship match had been fixed! With Derbyshire being bowled out for 44 in their first in
31 david_itl: News of the World is publishing more details tomorrow, including an 8 page pull-out.
32 HAWK21M: With the Talent at their disposal,I wonder why would anyone want to betray their country for Money.That is if proven these guys are at fault.
33 oly720man: AFAIK the Pakistani players get peanuts in comparison with many other players. And there still doesn't seem to be any definitive answer as to whether
34 david_itl: Pakistan 89 all out in the 19th over of a twenty20 game at Cardiff after winning the toss and deciding to bat. Are we sure nothing untoward happened b
35 Baroque: And Colly just ran down the wicket to S Akhtar and hit him for six.
36 CPH-R: This. I can't remember where I saw it, but I believe the average pay for a Pakistani player is something like £35,000/year. By comparison, an Englan
37 BlueElephant: Actually I think it was $35,000 a year....which is even less... Even still for someone living in Pakistan...that's quite a lot...still not nearly the
38 HAWK21M: Indian Cricketers on the International team get good money so do those in IPL...The Domestic league players are earning much less.Sad part is other s
39 david_itl: Great, the ICC is looking at yesterday's game because of suggestions that a predicted scoring pattern in Pakistan's innings was very similar to what a
40 Baroque: Two overs according to Agnew. Best be careful when and in which direction you sneeze by now. What a shambles.
41 david_itl: And apparently none of rhe England team or hierarchy is under investigation for these "rogue" overs.
42 Baroque: Things like the famous Harmison first ball to third slip might cause a few eyebrows in future if there happened to be bets on that happening. I can s
43 TheCommodore: I'm no expert on cricket and the like, but surely a good way to fix this problem is to ban betting on these matches etc. Take away any money making in
44 NAV20: No such luck, TheCommodore - all forms of gambling are already totally illegal in Pakistan. Arguably that makes matters worse, because being illegal
45 Baroque: Yes, but as Nav points out, already illegal in the country where the worst offences have been identified. It all must make Ponting a bit nervous abou
46 NAV20: Just recalling a press quote from the 'eejit fixer,' about the forthcoming five-match England-Pakistan one-day series, that I quoted early in the thre
47 oly720man: And now, this Ijaz Butt, the controversial chairman of the Pakistan board, turned up the heat ahead of the penultimate match of the tour nobody wants
48 CPH-R: According to Cricinfo, it seems like he did: http://www.cricinfo.com/england-v-pa.../content/current/story/477814.html Regarding the current 'scandal
49 oly720man: It looks like they were expected to have certain scores after certain numbers of overs. "Cricket chiefs then watched as Pakistan's score mirrored the
50 CPH-R: Gee, I wonder if anyone had bet on 42 runs coming off the last two overs?
51 HAWK21M: Cricket with Betting now sounds like some Videogame.
Sponsor Message: 
From Australia, joined Nov 2003, 9165 posts, 
) and presumably the careers of several Pakistani players will shortly end. But one does wonder how far the 'ripples' from this incident will spread.
From Sri Lanka, joined Mar 2007, 1211 posts, 
From Denmark, joined May 2001, 5755 posts, 
From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2001, 7168 posts, 
From United States of America, joined May 2005, 4724 posts, 
Printer friendly format 
