Time to ban Pakistan

Daily Mail’s Martin Samuel hits out hard at Pakistan today, naming them enemies of cricket.

I think he is right. Pakistan are the worst thing to happen to cricket in the game’s history.

It is not just the manical chairman Butt with his ridiculous claims, but everyone in Pakistan cricket, including captain Afridi, who stupidly tried to take the moral high ground after the Riaz-Trott incident.

Nobody in their camp has ever spoken out against anything that has happened in these last few weeks. They’re all trying to turn the blame on others instead of taking responsibility.

Always in defense, always pointing at others, always finding excuses and letting players of the hook, never getting to the bottom of things or trying to find a solution to apparent problems.

No wonder South Africa aren’t looking forward to touring Pakistan. It won’t be long before someone from Pakistan cricket will mention Cronje ..

Really, we don’t have anything useful to expect from Pakistan in this matter, so it’s time the ICC does something right for once and temporarily ban them from international cricket.

Let the ICC research all accusations of match-fixing, punish those players involved (if any are) and only then let Pakistan return to international cricket.

I’m just really fed up with Pakistan right now. I hope they lose today and don’t play England for a long, long time.

The solution to save Pakistani cricketers from corruption?

A great idea from Australia:

The Cash For At Risk Cricketers Centre (formerly Cricket United’s National Trust Society) in Lahore, Pakistan is an organisation, counselling service, safe haven, medical clinic, and education hub caring for vulnerable cricketers who need your help!

Giving just a DOLLAR-A-DAY ($30 a month) for a year will help sponsor a cricketer and give them a chance at avoiding life bans.

[..]

How can you look into a cricketer’s eyes and do nothing?

cricket with balls

If only it was so simple to save Pakistan cricket ..

Pakistan cricket heading to an inevitable end

I know these are still allegations, but seeing how serious Scotland Yard is taking the story from News of the World on spot-fixing by Pakistan players in the current Test series against England, I am sure there is a truth to it.

Captain Salman Butt, wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal and opening bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif, who have been so impressive, are in the middle of the it.

That means Pakistan cricket will reach a new low today when the story fully erupts and I am starting to wonder how much lower it can possible go. Over the last few years Pakistan have been going from scandal to scandal about everything from corruption to doping.

During this English summer Pakistan looked to have made a new start, but as always it proved a false dawn.

Every fibre of Pakistan cricket seems to be infected by a self destructive gene which is slowly but surely doing its work. It is no longer a question if Pakistan cricket can recover, just when it will completely implode and leave a hole in international cricket.

It is just so sad.

Pakistan legend Imran Khan talks politics, cricket and womanizing skills

I came across this video of Imran Khan being interviewed for CNN’s Connector of the Day series in february of this year.

Not exactly recent, but seeing how in Pakistan both politics and cricket seem to be in constant disarray, Khan’s views on these subjects remain actual and relevant.

At the end, he also shares the secret behind his womanizing skills: