***Official*** Pakistan in South Africa

[TT Boy]

Well that's stumps. SA 254/4, trail by only 59 runs. They are in control of the match. One can only marvel at the talent of Asif. What would've happened to Pakistan if he was not playing this game? It is obvious from some of the comments on this board that Asif will not soon live down the doping scandal. Every time he takes a wicket or has a good game, someone will likely comment on how he's a cheat and shouldn't be playing. He brought it upon himself I suppose.
Anyway, so maddening that no other bowler can step up to the plate and take a damn wicket!!

Well no one has retorted to Herschelle Gibbs fifty by saying not bad for a ‘self confessed’ match fixer. If people are going to take the moral high ground at least be objective about it.

Onto the game, good comeback from South Africa today. Asif and the new ball is the key for tomorrow. If they can ride that out then they have every chance of making a very handy first innings lead and putting Pakistan firmly under the pump second time around.

 

[The Baconator]

Well no one has retorted to Herschelle Gibbs fifty by saying not bad for a ‘self confessed’ match fixer. If people are going to take the moral high ground at least be objective about it.

Onto the game, good comeback from South Africa today. Asif and the new ball is the key for tomorrow. If they can ride that out then they have every chance of making a very handy first innings lead and putting Pakistan firmly under the pump second time around.

The case is different for Gibbs though. Many people's gripe with Asif comes more from his ban being revoked so shortly after being set more than any actual cheating itself. Gibbs served his so he's done his time and is more respected, like Warne as well and like Asif would be by many after he served his ban.

 

[Jono]

Are you in support or against him?

?

I like watching him bowl if that's what you're referring to. I like Pakistani cricket in general.

 

[howardj]

Good to see SA making some strides in the last five weeks or so.

Good for world cricket.

 

[Jono]

Haha, Asif ripping it apart and unlikely to lose the drug thing for quite a while. Might've been better for him to have serve out the ban.

Will people ever forget?

Doubt he cares. He's playing for his country, not for the newspapers or what fans on CW have to say.

Obviously the negative publicity can't have been good for him (Shoaib would have been more used to it clearly), but I imagine getting wickets for the team is his number 1 priority, not whether he's being labelled a cheat everytime he gets one.

 

[Jono]

Good to see SA making some strides in the last five weeks or so.

Good for world cricket.

I reckon its better for world cricket that sub-continental nations are playing competitive cricket away from home. India in WI and SA, SL in Eng and NZ and now Pak in SA. Makes for good watching, and is encouraing stuff.

 

[PY]

Doubt he cares. He's playing for his country, not for the newspapers or what fans on CW have to say.

Obviously the negative publicity can't have been good for him (Shoaib would have been more used to it clearly), but I imagine getting wickets for the team is his number 1 priority, not whether he's being labelled a cheat everytime he gets one.

You miss the point (been wanting to say that all day after everyone has said it ), cricket is about the fans & pundits/papers really in the end isn't it? It is, after all, a form of entertainment for fans.

If people aren't going to give him recognition for what he's done then it'll get to him in the end IMO. Not saying it's right or wrong to vilify him but I'm pretty sure he'll care about it sooner or later.

 

[Langeveldt]

Well no one has retorted to Herschelle Gibbs fifty by saying not bad for a ‘self confessed’ match fixer. If people are going to take the moral high ground at least be objective about it.

Onto the game, good comeback from South Africa today. Asif and the new ball is the key for tomorrow. If they can ride that out then they have every chance of making a very handy first innings lead and putting Pakistan firmly under the pump second time around.

It's already been done to death though, he a) Served his ban and b) Didn't actually fix a game of international cricket..

 

[Jono]

You miss the point (been wanting to say that all day after everyone has said it ), cricket is about the fans & pundits/papers really in the end isn't it? It is, after all, a form of entertainment for fans.

Knew that'd be your response tbh

IMO, from a personal POV, its about the one player making a living. He makes his living, i.e. does what he enjoys, and does what he has to do to pay his bills, by playing cricket. Getting wickets for his country is how he does that.

From cricket as a whole, the Asif saga is just bad for the game and its image, but with respect to Asif getting wickets, don't think its that big of an issue.

 

[no1_gangsta_786]

Well South Africa definitely in the driving seat atm. I havent seen any highlights yet and probably won't get the chance so can anyone tell me who dropped Amla and was it a easy or hard chance?

 

[Jono]

It's already been done to death though

Most people have even forgotten/never knew he was involved on the whole. He got off pretty lightly IMO, not in terms of punishment but in terms of public criticism and memory of the incident. Its almost always never mentioned.

 

[silentstriker]

I want someone to come out and say they are pro-cheating.

"If you ain't cheating, you ain't trying."

 

[Jono]

Eddie Guererro?

 

[silentstriker]

Eddie Guererro?

That's not a real sport.

 

[TT Boy]

Well South Africa definitely in the driving seat atm. I havent seen any highlights yet and probably won't get the chance so can anyone tell me who dropped Amla and was it a easy or hard chance?

It was a no ball so it didn't particularly matter in the ground scheme of things. Though he did offer a chance a ball later (I believe), gully got a hand to it but a Gibbs or a Hayden would have had it for lunch.

 

[no1_gangsta_786]

Much Appreciated TT boy. And now that you mention that Pakistan did bowl alot of no balls today...which they had cut down on while Waqar was the bowling coach. Is that just a coincidence?

 

[silentstriker]

Much Appreciated TT boy. And now that you mention that Pakistan did bowl alot of no balls today...which they had cut down on while Waqar was the bowling coach. Is that just a coincidence?

I doubt they simply forgot everything in the 48 hours since he left.

 

[jot1]

Amla's starting to get comfortable in the test arena and Prince looks as if he owns it. Boucher's just proved he's the best keeper ATM with his 300 record catches. C'mon World Cup, we be nearly ready.
Oh, got to see off Pakistan first. No problem!

 

[Langeveldt]

If people aren't going to give him recognition for what he's done then it'll get to him in the end IMO. Not saying it's right or wrong to vilify him but I'm pretty sure he'll care about it sooner or later.

1) They will give him recognition for what he does - There seem to be far more Pro Asif guys than Anti

2) Does it really matter? Murali has been villified all around the globe for his action, but he comes back stronger and stronger every time..

 

[Salamuddin]

Good to see SA making some strides in the last five weeks or so.

Good for world cricket.

I'm not sure about them making strides as such....remember they're playing at home and India and Pakistan have always traditionally struggle on the high veldt.

I didn't think SA were hugely impressive against India - India's ineptitude with the bat on that 4th day in Newlands gifted them the series...
Credit to SA they took their chances and they may well play with a lot more confidence against Pakistan and win convincingly.


But I will wait to see them in a few more series, before I start accepting that they are on the road back to being one of the top 3 teams....