***Official*** Pakistan in England

[Fusion]

The umpires still better have some visual evidence of a player tampering the ball though, because an accusation of cheating is a pretty serious matter. They can't just start making guesses as to what happened to the ball and charge someone of cheating. Perhaps Hair had a perception of Pakistanis as ball-tamperers (from the past) and that pushed him to action.

That's my point as well. Cheating is the most serious of allegations. You better have visual proof that you saw someone cheat. Otherwise you're tarneshing someone's reputation based solely on assumption. By the way, I've been hearing/reading commentary from a lot of people, and this sentiment is echoed by Nasser Hussain, Ian Botham, Mike Atherthon, Dickie Bird just to name a few. I would think the people I named came to that conclusion not based on emotion (as a Pak supporter "may"), but based on common sense.

 

[Fusion]

I don't think you could get away with that in front of a packed stand, especially if it's not your home crowd!

I'm amazed some people here still think it's possible to tamper with the ball without being caught in today's environment. Like you said, you are playing in front of thousands of people, with 26 cameras watching your every move, and the umpires keeping a close eye on you as well. We know Pakistan pacers are fast, but even they are not THAT FAST to pul this slight of hand off.

 

[open365]

I'm amazed some people here still think it's possible to tamper with the ball without being caught in today's environment. Like you said, you are playing in front of thousands of people, with 26 cameras watching your every move, and the umpires keeping a close eye on you as well. We know Pakistan pacers are fast, but even they are not THAT FAST to pul this slight of hand off.

Don't kidd youself.

 

[Jono]

Considering Dravid got caught using a lolly in his mouth on the ball (unbelievably hard for someone to pick that up, but the cameras picked it up clearly), I don't think its possible to get away with it nowadays. Its DEFINITELY not possible when the timeframe the supposed act occurred is known, and is fairly short.

 

[Mecnun]

I would just like to see some evidence, that is all. Then we can decide if Pak were in the wrong or right. If conclusively proven that they did tamper with the ball then they deserve what they get , if not then Hair/Doctrove should both respectively apologise for being fat and gullible. They should then both be removed from the elite panel of umpires.

 

[Barney Rubble]

This whole thing was just ridiculous. My views on it have been covered, pretty much word-for-word, by Neil, so I'll keep quiet - all I will say is that there has been a very, very large degree of spinelessness and stupidity shown by all the parties involved. By that I mean Pakistan, the umpires, and the ICC.

England were nothing more than innocent bystanders, and I feel very sorry for Andrew Strauss, who will have spent roughly four hours this evening trying to decide whether to back up the decision to leave the public cricket-less, or to fight for his right to (probably) lose a Test match. If there's a hero in this piece, he's it.

 

[aussie]

Strange end to the summer, very crazy stuff. I wonder if Hair will be punished in any way by the ICC, if he's not i wont be surprised if he never officiates in another Pakistan game again.

Anyway I say lets look foward to the ODI series, England are up againts a very formidable Pakistan side & IMO if they can get a positive result out of this series i.e a win or run Pakistan close it will do them well for the CT, VB series & the WC.

My England XI for the 1st ODI:

Trescothick
Joyce
Bell
KP
Strauss
Collingwood
Dalrymple
Read
Chapple
Gough
Harmison

Backup: Mahmood, Cook, Bopora

 

[Dasa]

If the ICC decide to suspend any Pakistani players for any infractions, I can see all hell breaking loose...wouldn't be surprised if there was a split from the ICC by the Asian bloc (which would probably spell the end of the ICC, considering most of the money comes from Asia).

 

[James]

Newstalk ZB audio: Newstalk ZB's Tony Veitch talks with BBC cricket commentator Jonathon Agnew.

 

[Fusion]

Dickie Bird's reaction:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/avdb/sport_web/audio/9012da68004f278/nb/09012da68004f2d4_16x9_nb.asx

 

[silentstriker]

If the ICC decide to suspend any Pakistani players for any infractions, I can see all hell breaking loose...wouldn't be surprised if there was a split from the ICC by the Asian bloc (which would probably spell the end of the ICC, considering most of the money comes from Asia).

I wouldn't go that far. This is hardly something to 'break' from the ICC for.

 

[maxpower]

how would've viewers sympathy transpire into anything actual result for the Pakistani players ? .

They'd have won the match, and had the support of pretty much everyone if it is proven that the umpires were wrong.

or they would've won, probably with more speculation on win result due to tampering also by pointing out that ENG had soundly beaten them previous times !!!!

when was the last time ICC took stern action against umpires when proven wrong ? please correct me if there is any such incident as I really can't recall.

 

[Dasa]

I wouldn't go that far. This is hardly something to 'break' from the ICC for.

True, but it could be seen (rightly or wrongly) as a chance to make a stand.

 

[silentstriker]

True, but it could be seen (rightly or wrongly) as a chance to make a stand.

Nah not big enough incident to make a stand that would cost millions of dollars.

 

[Fusion]

By the way, Doctrove is set to umpire 3 of the ODI's. I wonder if he will still do so?

http://www.icc-cricket.com/umpires-referees/appointments.html

 

[deeps]

anyone got a picture of the ball?

 

[Fusion]

anyone got a picture of the ball?

Not very clear, but yeah:

 

[luffy]

Dosnt look too bad.....

 

[Fusion]

Dosnt look too bad.....

Looks like a ball that's about 55 overs old.

 

[silentstriker]

Its hard to tell from that picture, but no clear signs are visible there. I don't doubt that it was pretty scruffed up, otherwise the other umpires wouldnt have gotten along with it. But the issue is that was it intentional scruffing? And did Hair see anyone?