CA reaction to Steve Smith vs PCB reaction to Shahid Afridi's offence in 2010

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Afridi and Hafeez don't go around giving moral lectures to the world or for being the bastions of righteousness. Steve Smith fell way short of the standard expected from an Australian Cricketer and has to be held to a higher pedestal.

No one should be held to a higher standard, the law should apply equally, and so should the judgemental outrage. Smith and his Aussie team mates are clear and obvious cheats, the brown sahibs who are crying about Pakistani ball tampering in the past are obviously distraught that the noble and righteous Aussies have been caught red handed. Too bad guys, these things were bound to come out sooner or later. Get over it and get some self respect.

 

[Varun]

Any other country, any other cricket board and Afridi would not have set foot on ground after that day. Less for being a cold blooded cheat and more for being an absolute nutcase who is not mentally fit to play any sort of sport.

Any other country, any other board, and Afridi wouldn't have had that long a career to begin with - debut in 1996 and ball biting incident in 2010 when he was a captain, no less!

 

[Bilal7]

Really? Was the Pak team accused to have tampered the ball in the Oval Test back in 2006? Yes. What happens after that is irrelevant. Right?

No! What matters is the final verdict. And the final verdict was that Sachin was innocent. There's nothing you can do about it. That's what history says, and that's what history will remember

Here, enjoy it -

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2001/nov/29/cricket2

No, I didn't. There were always talks from current and former players that he was chucking the ball. In response, he kept yapping that he couldn't bowl with a completely clean action because of a deformity. So how did the deformity disappear after he was found out to be chucking? He started bowling with a clean action after that. And as a result lost the advantage that he previously had in cheating countless batsmen of their wickets.


The picture was in response that effigies are indeed burnt by Pak fans.

Unlike you, I don't have any problems admitting that Asif might cheated. How about you agree that Sachin might have been doing more than "cleaning the ball", which by the way, is also an offence and illegal behavior on a cricket field. Here is what that article you provided says:

"It's still an offence but it's not as serious as ball tampering," said ICC spokesman Mark Harrison."

"The current crisis involving Virender Sehwag all stems from the punishment given to Tendulakar, who is revered as a god in India. The Indian Board refused to accept Denness as the match referee for the third test against South Africa which was then declared unofficial by the ICC."

So after Sachin was caught ball tampering, these people threw such a ruckus that the ICC decided that this was more trouble than it was worth and changed the verdict from a ball tampering charge to a lesser charge, which Indians like to brush off even though it is definitely against the spirit of the game, although to a lesser extent. Hilarious. Smith and Warner were born in the wrong country for ball tamperers. Had they been Indians, their charge would have been changed to "applying perfume on the ball" without the umpires' consent.

As for Ajmal, dude what are you even talking about? Ajmal did not give a rat's tail about guys like Willis. He was cleared by the ICC, his bowling was found to be 100% legal and he had absolutely zero incentive to change his action. This whole injury business was given birth to because of a misinterpreted interview of his which made some people think that the ICC was allowing him to bowl over the limits because of his injury. That was not the case, his action was within the limits and comfortably so.

""The ICC in a statement later confirmed the bowling action of Ajmal had been found to be legal in an independent test and said the player can, therefore, continue to bowl in international cricket.

"During a comprehensive analysis it was revealed that the amount of elbow extension in Saeed Ajmal's bowling action for all deliveries was within the 15-degree level of tolerance permitted in the ICC regulations," it said.""

Where does it say that he was only cleared because of injury or whatever you're saying? The experts found him under the limit and he was cleared. The PCB is not competent enough to have their player cleared on such basis and Ajmal is no Sachin who would be allowed to bowl underarm if his fans threatened the ICC enough.

 

[JattMaula]

Lala was hungry. Nothing wrong with bit of snacking.

Aussies are selfdeclaired guardians of the line(mythical boundary of fairplay never ever crossed by any aussie sportsman) something PCB never claimed to be.

 

[Bilal7]

Lala was hungry. Nothing wrong with bit of snacking.

Aussies are selfdeclaired guardians of the line(mythical boundary of fairplay never ever crossed by any aussie sportsman) something PCB never claimed to be.

) Nice!

 

[blue_champion]

Afridi biting the ball was the most blatant case of ball tampering ever in the history of cricket

But then again Guys convicted of fixing will never ever be welcomed to play if they are in any other country, so different rules different perspective I guess.

 

[UN talkz]

Lala was hungry. Nothing wrong with bit of snacking.

Aussies are selfdeclaired guardians of the line(mythical boundary of fairplay never ever crossed by any aussie sportsman) something PCB never claimed to be.

Great one Jatt Sahab
U have been in great form in and off the field in last few days.

 

[blue_champion]

Unlike you, I don't have any problems admitting that Asif might cheated. How about you agree that Sachin might have been doing more than "cleaning the ball", which by the way, is also an offence and illegal behavior on a cricket field. Here is what that article you provided says:

"It's still an offence but it's not as serious as ball tampering," said ICC spokesman Mark Harrison."

"The current crisis involving Virender Sehwag all stems from the punishment given to Tendulakar, who is revered as a god in India. The Indian Board refused to accept Denness as the match referee for the third test against South Africa which was then declared unofficial by the ICC."

So after Sachin was caught ball tampering, these people threw such a ruckus that the ICC decided that this was more trouble than it was worth and changed the verdict from a ball tampering charge to a lesser charge, which Indians like to brush off even though it is definitely against the spirit of the game, although to a lesser extent. Hilarious. Smith and Warner were born in the wrong country for ball tamperers. Had they been Indians, their charge would have been changed to "applying perfume on the ball" without the umpires' consent.

As for Ajmal, dude what are you even talking about? Ajmal did not give a rat's tail about guys like Willis. He was cleared by the ICC, his bowling was found to be 100% legal and he had absolutely zero incentive to change his action. This whole injury business was given birth to because of a misinterpreted interview of his which made some people think that the ICC was allowing him to bowl over the limits because of his injury. That was not the case, his action was within the limits and comfortably so.

""The ICC in a statement later confirmed the bowling action of Ajmal had been found to be legal in an independent test and said the player can, therefore, continue to bowl in international cricket.

"During a comprehensive analysis it was revealed that the amount of elbow extension in Saeed Ajmal's bowling action for all deliveries was within the 15-degree level of tolerance permitted in the ICC regulations," it said.""

Where does it say that he was only cleared because of injury or whatever you're saying? The experts found him under the limit and he was cleared. The PCB is not competent enough to have their player cleared on such basis and Ajmal is no Sachin who would be allowed to bowl underarm if his fans threatened the ICC enough.

Reading these kind of reasoning over the years by Pakistani fans is what has desensitized most of us from the sub continent to the whole Smith Warner saga and feels the punishment is a little harsh even though it was blatant cheating

 

[MenInG]

CA have made Smith and Warner look like errant schoolboys - Would PCB have done that with any of their players?

 

[Fahdi]

I still remember how after the Afridi incident people actually defended him and he became an even greater hero in many people's eyes. "Look at Afridi a true team man willing to go to all lengths for the team". It was honestly shameful.

 

[Saj]

I spoke with a former Pakistan player today and in his own words:

"Cricket Australia has banned their players for ball tampering, while we made a hero out of a cricketer who bit a cricket ball while the world was watching"

 

[Napa]

My list of offenses in cricket, starting with the least corrupt:

1) Batsman not walking when he knows he has snicked the ball.
2) Claiming a catch when the ball had touched the ground prior.
3) "Cleaning" the ball.
4) Biting the ball. (Should be dealt with less severely simply because of its entertainment value.)
5) Moonwalking on the pitch.
6) Zippers, candy, sugar etc.
7) Planning to sandpaper the ball and doing so.

daylight

8) Taking money to fix a game, especially when playing for his country.

 

[Savak]

I spoke with a former Pakistan player today and in his own words:

"Cricket Australia has banned their players for ball tampering, while we made a hero out of a cricketer who bit a cricket ball while the world was watching"

It is pretty simple. According to the Australian Cricketing Board, Australian Cricketing Community, Australian General Public the likes of Steve Smith, David Warner, Bancroft are disgraceful cheats of the highest order who deserved whatever came to them.

According to the Pakistani Cricket Board, Pakistani Cricketing Community, Pakistan General Community, Afridi is not a cheat and is not disgraceful and last i checked people around the world did not gang up against him.

Hence the world order and rules must apply.

 

[MMHS]

Without going to the heavy words like moral, ethics .... I can explain the situation (both) perfectly in Financial terms.

Let's start from a bit off track - top decile (10%) of PAK's population is filthy rich, these are most lavish people in world. Forget PAK, if one goes for a walk at around 3AM in Dhaka's airport access way, chances are high that he'll see some extravagant car race - Murcialago, Diabalo, Avantador, Ferrari, Massareti, Alfa Romeo, Royce Phantom ... even there is a record of someone (very common name, there are millions with that name in BD) releasing a Bugati Veyron at 300% tax at Chittagong port .... these cars are never seen in day time. These are toys of the rich & the spoiled ..... they can keep DMP Commissioner at their pay role, who would ask his forces to block National Highway for couple of hours .....

10% of PAK is 23 million - more than many of the 1st world countries entire population. Bottom line is there is enough, enough market ...... STILL Nike & Adidas & Puma doesn't even touch PAK cricket team, which is still the heart throb in PAK and across world where PAK diaspora is dense. The reason (someone can cross check, if possible) - Salman Butt & couple of NO Balls. Top global brands wouldn't touch PAK team even with a pole as long as team's images are shady.

Cricket is a dying game, only 10-12 countries play it seriously, of which may be 90% cricket lover hardly understands the technicalities of fixing, sledging, tempering, pitch doctoring ..... rest of the world 90% doesn't even know the game cricket. But, what people across globe know (& hate) is corruption in sports - fixing, doping, cheating. These are massive, massive negative connotation for any global brand, whose 1% fall in market share can get the CEO sacked!!!!!! I am writing this from my professional experience - it can't be a bigger disaster for any consumer brand, where gossip runs faster than any promotion andit;s beyond boundary.

Now, coming to the current situation - take a took at the Sponsors of AUS team, which is the most sought after brand in cricket (Indian team might have higher value for the volume of market, but Aussies are the Brazil of Cricket) - Commonwealth Bank, XXXX, VB, Magellan, Accenture, Optus, Toyota, KFC, Oasis, Bupa, Nestle, Qantas, Hardys ...... these are the TOP names in their industry across globe. These brands would pay big, and their risk premium is higher as well - they won't leave any space for CA to play cat & mouse with their brand ambassador (here AUS cricket team & it's image). Hence that prompt, spontaneous and to me quite strict action.

Coming to Afridi incident - for a beggar like PCB, Afridi was their thali (begging bowl). Lala earned more bucks for PCB's officials' luxury than what the most popular entertainment of world's 5th largest populated market couldn't; hence PCB had to act opposite to CA.

Trust me, I do see both incidents quite similar - the Smith out come is what a proper functioning business house should do; while the Afridi outcome doesn't reflect PCB's moral bankruptcy, rather their incompetence and bankruptcy of PAK cricket - lack of leadership and worthless people holding on to something way above their grasp.

 

[Saj]

It is pretty simple. According to the Australian Cricketing Board, Australian Cricketing Community, Australian General Public the likes of Steve Smith, David Warner, Bancroft are disgraceful cheats of the highest order who deserved whatever came to them.

According to the Pakistani Cricket Board, Pakistani Cricketing Community, Pakistan General Community, Afridi is not a cheat and is not disgraceful and last i checked people around the world did not gang up against him.

Hence the world order and rules must apply.

Oh the stench of hypocrisy.

 

[HARKS]

It is pretty simple. According to the Australian Cricketing Board, Australian Cricketing Community, Australian General Public the likes of Steve Smith, David Warner, Bancroft are disgraceful cheats of the highest order who deserved whatever came to them.

According to the Pakistani Cricket Board, Pakistani Cricketing Community, Pakistan General Community, Afridi is not a cheat and is not disgraceful and last i checked people around the world did not gang up against him.

Hence the world order and rules must apply.

It's bcoz of this mentality, even though ur country has second most crazy cricket fans ur still in lower rungs ,bcz just as MMHS has said ur cricket brand has absolutely no value even with big fan base

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

I spoke with a former Pakistan player today and in his own words:

"Cricket Australia has banned their players for ball tampering, while we made a hero out of a cricketer who bit a cricket ball while the world was watching"

No disrespect to the former player, but I don't really like to hear this sort of thing from them. It wasn't the people who made Pakistan players tamper with the ball or indulge in spot fixing, it was the former players and current players. You wouldn't hear Steve Smith or Warner try to pass the blame to their cricket board or fans for their own indiscretions.

 

[PukhtoonZalmay88]

Just saw Steven Smith's press conferences and what boils my blood is that unlike these players, our fixing trio shamelessly kept denying it, sitting on tv channels trying to fool their fans for years and the pcb didnt do jack about it. They showed no remorse whatsoever.

 

[MMHS]

It's bcoz of this mentality, even though ur country has second most crazy cricket fans ur still in lower rungs ,bcz just as MMHS has said ur cricket brand has absolutely no value even with big fan base

Despite possible maximum damage control effort by CA, I read this incident might be as costly as $500mn for CA - that's in next couple of years!!!!! Imagine, if it was like Afridi type reaction ....

Situation is different here than fining Shane & Mark $60K for a "weather update" and sweep that under carpet until those 2 retired. Obviously, their moral is much higher than we poor, 3rd world country people ....

 

[Savak]

It's bcoz of this mentality, even though ur country has second most crazy cricket fans ur still in lower rungs ,bcz just as MMHS has said ur cricket brand has absolutely no value even with big fan base

Oh please stop with the lecture. Cricket Australia and Australian Cricketers have a rich history of bullying other teams, not practicing what they preach and going crying to mommy when they can't take it. This was not a morally righteous decision by Cricket Australia but a result of the huge uproar from the Australian general public, Prime Minister, Australian Cricketers and most importantly the sponsors who have threatened to cut ties with Cricket Australia. James Sutherland had no choice but to do what he did to minimize the damage.

The brand value of the Pakistani team suffered due to terrorism and the absence of international cricket in Pakistan. In the PSL we have brands like Uber and OPPO, the same brands which invest in the IPL, we have had brands like CocaCola, Pepsi and co. It is only a question of Foreign Investment coming back to Pakistan, International Cricket coming back to Pakistan in large numbers and you will see the brand value of the Pakistani Cricket economy, team and the PSL skyrocket. According to Sethi he has a report which states that the brand value of the PSL is close to a billion dollars which is remarkable for a league in its infancy which has not even reached home fully yet.

Pakistan Cricket has stood the test of time, we have survived and held our own in extraordinarily difficult circumstances. Just imagine what would have happened to other countries around the world not being able to play a single match at home for 10 long years.

 

[Saj]

No disrespect to the former player, but I don't really like to hear this sort of thing from them. It wasn't the people who made Pakistan players tamper with the ball or indulge in spot fixing, it was the former players and current players. You wouldn't hear Steve Smith or Warner try to pass the blame to their cricket board or fans for their own indiscretions.

No what he was meaning was that we should stop trying to cover up such transgressions and instead deal with them like CA have.

It reminds me of Ijaz Butt etc saying that the 2010 fixing scandal was a plot against Pakistan and Pakistan cricket.

 

[UN talkz]

Afridi one wasn't planned, SandPaperGate was properly pre-planned but they failed in their plan

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

No what he was meaning was that we should stop trying to cover up such transgressions and instead deal with them like CA have.

It reminds me of Ijaz Butt etc saying that the 2010 fixing scandal was a plot against Pakistan and Pakistan cricket.

CA are running a much more professional organisation, with that comes a lot more scrutiny and accountability. The problem with Pakistan cricket is that you would probably see better organisation and structure at school level in the big three countries. This then reflects on the players who are part of it. In Pakistan people have never seen anything run on a professional basis so they just don't have those standards.