David Warner, Umar Akmal, Saleem Malik: what if they name names?

[Junaids]

Yesterday we saw Umar Akmal effectively given a life ban not because his offence was at the severe end of the scale but because he was dumb enough to represent himself in court, and made the elementary errors that you would expect him to.

You can say with some justification "this is the latest in an endless line of unforced errors that he has chosen to make". And it is true.

But has Wasim Khan looked at the bigger picture here? Only yesterday, we were wondering whether Saleem Malik would rock international cricket by bringing down his international and Pakistani co-conspirators from 1990's matchfixing.

It is a matter of record that the publishers of Ed Hawkins' incendiary bestseller "Bookie, Gambler, Fixer, Spy" received legal clearance for the book prior to publication. And the most shocking revelation of all was that while Hawkins was in India for the 2011 World Cup semi-final between India and Pakistan he received a detailed outline at the innings break of Pakistan's innings, in terms of when wickets would fall, scores in 5 over brackets and the eventual margin of defeat.

That claim was published. It is in the public domain. And if you look at the Pakistan team line-up, it read:

Kamran Akmal
Mohammad Hafeez
Asad Shafiq
Younis Khan
Misbah-ul-Haq
Umar Akmal
Abdul Razzaq
Shahid Afridi
Wahab Riaz
Umar Gul
Saeed Ajmal

The risk here is obvious, but it is not unprecedented. If Umar Akmal sees that his career has been ended, next time Pakistan tours England he will I assume sell his story to The Sun On Sunday, the successor to the News of the World. If he names names the consequences for Pakistan cricket are unthinkable.

This, as I said, is not unprecedented.

Two years ago, the majority of the Australian team never wanted to see David Warner ever again. They blamed him both for the bad blood with South Africa and for the sandpaper incident. People wondered whether he would never be selected again.

But the problem was, the risk of not selecting him after his ban was worse than the consequences of selecting him. He knew precisely who had been aware of the sandpaper practice, and how long it had been going on. He knew that Starc, Hazlewood, Cummins and Lyon had been bowling with a ball that looked like it had been chewed by a dog 40 overs too early, and he knew that Tim Paine had handled that ball every time the batsman left a delivery outside off-stump.

The risks of punishing Warner too harshly clearly outweighed the risks of selecting him. He needed to be made an example of, but the door needed to be left open for him to ensure that he didn't sell his story and destroy the carefully woven lies about the sandpaper only ever having been used that one day.

I went to bed last night thinking "Umar Akmal must have done something really bad as well as just not reporting an approach". I woke up this morning and thought "they have made an example of him for representing himself ineptly at his tribunal, but they have probably driven him into the arms of the media. Is that wise?"

 

[Thunderbolt14]

I don’t think Umar Akmal will run his mouth. It would jeopardize his brother Kamran and Umar may be whatever he is but he is not the type to sell out family.

 

[ElRaja]

salim malik doesnt really make a difference tbh, everyone knew who exactly was involved in fixing in the nineties. when u look at former cricketers tweeting, and only guys like miandad and rameez raja have such strong reactions it says everything abt everyone else from that 90s era who is conspicuous by their silence.

umar akmals revelations would never come to light because they would inevitably implicate his own family members and extended network.

warners situation is similar to malik, in that everyone knows that the whole team must have been in on it, and that they him and bancroft were scapegoated under the assumption they would eventually be rehabilitated.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Also, here is the Hawkins report on Mohali:

India will bat first and score over 260, 3 wickets fall within the first 15 overs, pak will cruise to 100, then lose two quick wickets, at 150 they will be 5 down and crumble and lose by a margin of over 20 runs.

The two quick wickets at 100 are Younis Khan and Asad Shafiq. To get them both in you need Kamran Akmal and/or Hafeez fixed at the top otherwise they may not get out. Here is ESPN Cricinfo’s ball-by-ball commentary on Hafeez:

What was Hafeez thinking? Again, yet again, a lovely 30 -40 and he has combusted. He went for a paddle sweep, yeah a paddle sweep, to a full delivery outside off stump and edged it to Dhoni. Oh dear. Pressure? or over confidence?

Take from it what you will. The fifth wicket before 150 is Umar Akmal.

The only thing that makes me doubt the validity of the claim is Younis Khan’s involvement. I’ve always viewed him as an honest man, and he is central to one of the most specific claims in this “script”. You also need Misbah fixed to guarantee the margin of 20 runs, something I am skeptical he would do. Hence, take it with a grain of salt

 

[Junaids]

Also, here is the Hawkins report on Mohali:



The two quick wickets at 100 are Younis Khan and Asad Shafiq. To get them both in you need Kamran Akmal and/or Hafeez fixed at the top otherwise they may not get out. Here is ESPN Cricinfo’s ball-by-ball commentary on Hafeez:



Take from it what you will. The fifth wicket before 150 is Umar Akmal.

The only thing that makes me doubt the validity of the claim is Younis Khan’s involvement. I’ve always viewed him as an honest man, and he is central to one of the most specific claims in this “script”. You also need Misbah fixed to guarantee the margin of 20 runs, something I am skeptical he would do. Hence, take it with a grain of salt

Unfortunately I believe the bits you don't. I think that certain people were never clean.

 

[Rana]

I like Junaids posts, the guy has quite an interesting way of seeing things. Smart poster.

I can only comment on Salim Malik and I feel that he will not spill the beans today knowing that he would destroy the name of Pakistan completely. I have a gut feeling that Wasim Akram, Inzimam and a few others have always been in touch with him since he was banned and he must have a code of loyalty towards all of the guys who didn’t get caught for what he did. The man is simply pleading for a job without having to rat anyone out.

 

[daytrader]

Interesting view point, however I don't think Umar has any dirt on anybody. Hawkins wasn't in India. He watched at home in London and apparently got a tweet from an Indian 'bookie' laying out the whole scenario. The bookie could've been just a long time cricket fan who knew Pakistan wouldn't win. If there was more to the story it would've come out by now especially with the amount of criticism PCT received surrounding that match. Also the event was too close to the spot fixing events and the entire reason Misbah was brought in was to control the team. There's no way him, Younis, Afridi and Hafeez were in on it.

 

[Junaids]

Interesting view point, however I don't think Umar has any dirt on anybody. Hawkins wasn't in India. He watched at home in London and apparently got a tweet from an Indian 'bookie' laying out the whole scenario. The bookie could've been just a long time cricket fan who knew Pakistan wouldn't win. If there was more to the story it would've come out by now especially with the amount of criticism PCT received surrounding that match. Also the event was too close to the spot fixing events and the entire reason Misbah was brought in was to control the team. There's no way him, Younis, Afridi and Hafeez were in on it.

Except for the fact that the innings followed the script that Hawkins had been provided with.

I don't want those players to be guilty either. But people (wrongly) focus on the 2010 spot fix in London, without remembering the evidence that was given in court.

In court it was made clear that:

1. Several Pakistan batsmen had deliberately thrown the first two Tests in Sri Lanka ten months earlier.
2. Several Pakistan players had deliberately lost the Sydney Test eight months earlier - and Mazhar Majeed confessed on tape in the NOTW sting to having fixed it, but without using Asif or Butt or Amir. If you believe that Amir, Asif and Butt are guilty, surely you have to accept that part of the tape too?
3. Mazhar Majeed told the Fake Sheikh that Asif and Amir and Butt did not fix for him, but were jealous of the players in the team who did, and might be willing to sell themselves too.

The evidence in court was overwhelming. Amir and Asif and Butt were guilty as charged, but they actually weren't part of either of the two proper fixing cliques in the Pakistan dressing room. They were just idiots who got caught, while the professional fixers got away with it.

Personally I have always wondered whether the Akmals might have been part of one of those two cliques that were never caught - but I have never had the evidence to argue that. But there is another clique which got away with it, and you just need to look at the scorecards from Sri Lanka, Sydney and Mohali to work out its likely membership.

 

[Jin Chacha]

Isn't it a good thing if he does expose the fixers? Yes, it would have serious consequences for the reputation of our cricket but what's the point of protecting this reputation if all of us know in our hearts that some people are not clean. Why keep pushing things under the carpet to protect certain big names like we did in the 90s. Who are we deceiving other than ourselves?

 

[Junaids]

Isn't it a good thing if he does expose the fixers? Yes, it would have serious consequences for the reputation of our cricket but what's the point of protecting this reputation if all of us know in our hearts that some people are not clean. Why keep pushing things under the carpet to protect certain big names like we did in the 90s. Who are we deceiving other than ourselves?

And what if the people he identifies are one or more of Pakistan’s Mr Clean figures?

That Mohali scorecard might be innocent. But as posted by others in this thread, if Hawkins is telling the truth about that match following a script then one or more out of Hafeez, Misbah, Younis, Shafiq and the Akmals may be innocent. But equally, they certainly should all be cross-examined to see whether they were part of the fix.

 

[Indiafan]

There is zero proof Hawkins got anything BEFORE the match. All his claims were after the match. And after the match many people cleverly edited score cards and pretended they got it before the match. I am pretty sure Hawkins just fell for a prank

 

[Hawkeye]

Haha, good stuff in this thread.

A perfect recipe for the next conspiracy theory thriller.

I admire how y'all are so excited and energized at the thought of all these fantasies and conspiracy theories.

Keep 'em coming.

 

[Junaids]

There is zero proof Hawkins got anything BEFORE the match. All his claims were after the match. And after the match many people cleverly edited score cards and pretended they got it before the match. I am pretty sure Hawkins just fell for a prank

Haha, good stuff in this thread.

A perfect recipe for the next conspiracy theory thriller.

I admire how y'all are so excited and energized at the thought of all these fantasies and conspiracy theories.

Keep 'em coming.

What there is, indisputably, is the video recording which trapped Amir, Asif and Butt.

And in it their manager clearly says that his group of fixers fixed the earlier Sydney Test - but not Amir, Asif or Butt.

You can’t have it both ways. If that evidence convicted Amir, Asif and Butt then there was a more serious fixing clique which escaped capture.

It’s both or it’s neither.

 

[Kroll]

If Umar Akmal sees that his career has been ended, next time Pakistan tours England he will I assume sell his story to The Sun On Sunday, the successor to the News of the World. If he names names the consequences for Pakistan cricket are unthinkable.

If there are indeed names to be named such that the consequences for Pakistan cricket are unthinkable then so be it.

What would actually be the point in watching Pakistan matches when the results are predetermined which always results in losses. Especially when it comes to high stake matches against India at the WC.

Pakistan cricket should cease to exist if their matches are fixed on a regular basis.

 

[Varun]

The risk here is obvious, but it is not unprecedented. If Umar Akmal sees that his career has been ended, next time Pakistan tours England he will I assume sell his story to The Sun On Sunday, the successor to the News of the World. If he names names the consequences for Pakistan cricket are unthinkable.

Nothing will happen.

 

[silentkiller187]

There is zero proof Hawkins got anything BEFORE the match. All his claims were after the match. And after the match many people cleverly edited score cards and pretended they got it before the match. I am pretty sure Hawkins just fell for a prank

I’ve read the book and I would agree with the above, lots of people making fantasised claims and not much proof or evidance. similar to the NOTW sting, I think the manager overplayed his power of the players to look good in front of the fake sheikh, but vey interesting to see what names would come out if any.

 

[pratiktc]

This thread is an amusing tinfoil hat story.
Not to be taken seriously and of no consequence. Much like Umar Akmal himself.

Neither Sydney or Mohali was fixed. It was Pal's own incompetence that cost them those games.

Same goes for 90s Pak team. Obviously Waz/Waqar/Inzy etc. would have taken grafts and under the table money. Might even have thrown a random game or two. It is not unprecedented and teams across world - India (Azhar/Jadeja/Prabhakar), South Africa (Cronje and co.) had players doing it.

Where Pak missed the bus was by not stamping it out in 2000-01 by ending Wasim and Waqar's careers and setting up a new culture devoid of the 90s toxicity.

India and South Africa cleaned house and Ganguly/Pollock did decent rebuilding jobs to improve and reestablish good environment.

 

[Rana]

Anyone in touch with Salim Malik here? Does he need a ghostwriter and a publisher for his book?

 

[hitthestump]

The Akmal's themselves are a mafia. Who is he going to snitch to?

I mean his own brother was unable to hide the most obvious Pakistani match fix to date since the 1999 WC.

Those behind the fixing in cricket are always going to be dangerous and influential people. I don't think we're going to see Umar running his mouth about others.

 

[Forum363]

This thread is an amusing tinfoil hat story.
Not to be taken seriously and of no consequence. Much like Umar Akmal himself.

Neither Sydney or Mohali was fixed. It was Pal's own incompetence that cost them those games.

Same goes for 90s Pak team. Obviously Waz/Waqar/Inzy etc. would have taken grafts and under the table money. Might even have thrown a random game or two. It is not unprecedented and teams across world - India (Azhar/Jadeja/Prabhakar), South Africa (Cronje and co.) had players doing it.

Where Pak missed the bus was by not stamping it out in 2000-01 by ending Wasim and Waqar's careers and setting up a new culture devoid of the 90s toxicity.

India and South Africa cleaned house and Ganguly/Pollock did decent rebuilding jobs to improve and reestablish good environment.

Did you watch the Sydney test? If nothing else, what do you feel about Kamran Akmal collecting the ball and avoiding taking the bails off with great difficulty?