This really puts the ICC and ECB in the path of a lot of criticism if they guess wrong with what to do with the rest of the current tour. If the allegations hold up (especially the ones of 7 players being involved in a match fixing ring) and the tour continues then they'll be in the wrong for not cancelling a tour that is so fully under the cloud of match fixing, and allowing cheats to continue to play the game. However if they do cancel the tour and it turns out to be false accusations (and realistically it needs to be a case of innocent until proven guilty) then whoever cancels the tour will be accused of overreacting in the face of unverified accusations that anyone could falsely make about any player around the world.

While we can speculate now, we may not know anything for sure until it all plays out in court, well after the current tour is over.

you're a cage fighter?

Don't be ridiculous, he's an aviculturist

they have to cancel it chakas, so they over reacted if it somehow comes out that it's bulls***. whoopty f***ing do there are some games of cricket not played. letting them play if it's true is just crap, like making the melbourne storm an entire season for nothing

shows they aren't taking it lightly

If it turns out to not be true the PCB will throw an absolute fit over the tour being cancelled. There will be cries of racism, bias and prejudgment against Pakistan. And then there's a precedent set where any random can come out and claim any other team is on the take and there would be calls for the same treatment and cancelling of tours. Could you imagine if a bunch of people with axes to grind came out after the 2nd test and claimed the Ashes this summer was rigged?

Despite that I am actually leaning towards the view that the tour needs to be cancelled, but I'm just saying it will be a hard call to make for the ICC or ECB. The best scenario for world cricket would probably be the PCB calling off the tour while the allegations are investigated. But I don't see them doing that because it send the message that they think there is a strong possibility of corruption in Pakistani cricket while they are actively trying to downplay the possibility.

The ICC have a anti corruption task force that has obviously failed and has been failing for some time. The PCB can't be trusted to clean it up internally either .. I mean even Asif's bollywood star gf is saying he payed to have his 2 year ban reduced to 1 year lol.

I reckon the ICC decision to let the Pakistan team play on is sending the wrong message, it seems there is enough evidence to use this incident to clean house. Sure it would rock cricket worldwide, but hasn't that already happened? I say throw the f***ing book at them, suspend Pakistan from world cricket for an amount of time and tell them to clean up their act. While they are at it, put the Indians on notice also.

Otherwise we risk the game suffering a long and painful death.

suspend Pakistan from world cricket for an amount of time and tell them to clean up their act

I agree, if the allegations are upheld. Even though it looks pretty bad, we don't have all the details yet and need to presume innocence until guilt is proven. However at that point every sanction and then some need to be thrown at Pakistani cricket to make sure the risks for anyone around the world to fix a match are too grave to ever contemplate.

the only penalty is life bans for all players involved. nothing less will suffice.

Death is beta

Death is beta

The way the Pakistani ppls are reacting I think it's best the players in question don't go home for a while. Wouldn't like to be their families atm - s***.

I seen some footage last night of the Pakis tour bus leaving the test match and Pakistanis were outside throwing food and insults at the bus.
Looks like they are convinced.

Very good article written by Geoff Lawson on the matter, he gives an interesting insight on the matter from the perspective of former Pakistan coach.

Hmmmm.

They sacked him though didnt they ?
Maybe thats why.
Its not like hes going to come out and name anyone but I bet he knows more than hes letting on.

Hey guys remember Bob Woolmer and Hansie Cronje? How are they doing these days?

So as far as I can gather 4 things have happened in the last 12 or so hours:

-Firstly someone from the ACSU met with Asif's ex-girlfriend who claims to have proof or verification that Asif was involved.

-Then the 3 players currently implicated met with people at the Pakistani High Commission in the UK.

-Then there were claims the Pakistani players were setup, but that they were pulling out of the current tour because of "mental torture".

-Their withdrawal from the tour was however meaningless as the ICC provisionally suspended all 3 players anyway, leaving the tour to continue without them. Given 7 players were implicated but only 3 named, it may mean there is still speculation over up to (or even more than) 4 players still in the squad.

yeah, set up my ass.

Lawson's article is almost as bad. If it is true, there is no justification for taking money.

I saw another article that blamed western cultural insensitivies for not understanding the Baksheesh culture which dominates Pakistan and India but refused to admit that there was anything wrong with corruption.