A final humiliation

Pakistan lost a Test match and a series but they might have lost something more important: their integrity. Has a day of Test cricket ever been played under such a shroud of controversy and potential disaster for a group of cricketers? Once more, an England Test series ends in unwanted allegations and accusations. A country ravaged by war and floods, now faces international humiliation over the conduct of its cricketers.

The spot-fixing crisis is a disaster for Pakistan cricket. The evidence released in the last 24 hours is some of the strongest ever presented about match-fixing. It is a criminal investigation. As a result, some of the brightest talents of Pakistan cricket face the toughest battle of their lives, the battle to save their careers. Pakistan fans will be hoping that the evidence that appears to damn their cricketers on face value does not bear scrutiny.

As we await further revelations or denial of the evidence presented, two issues are imperative. First, the evidence must be thoroughly examined for the sake of the reputations of the individuals involved. Second, if the evidence does confirm that match-fixing or spot-fixing has taken place then Pakistan cricket must not spare anybody who has been involved in any capacity, whether player, manager, board administrator, or bus driver.

Pakistan fans want their team to succeed but they also want it to be clean. If that means a root and branch overhaul of the Pakistan Cricket Board and the cricket team then so be it.

Is the current PCB administration capable of handling such an explosive issue?

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