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Anorak News | Pakistan’s Amir Snubbed At Lord’s Awards Ceremony (Photos)

Pakistan’s Amir Snubbed At Lord’s Awards Ceremony (Photos)

by | 29th, August 2010

MR Mohammad Amir, Mr Mohammad Asif and Pakistan’s captain Salman Butt have had their mobile phones confiscated by police. If any of them have been texting a shag or a pepperoni deep-pan pizza now’s the time to ‘fess up.

After the alleged “rigged” match at Lord’s, Amir received the Pakistan man of the series award from ECB chairman Giles Clarke. There was no eye contact. Mr Clarks did not extend a hand (nor fist). Amir slunk up, his face hidden beneath a generous baseball cap to get his cheque. He does not speak. He does  to use the moment to scream his innocence.

Later, Pakistan’s team manager Yawar Saeed tells one and all:

“No allegations are true til they are proved.”

Well, when they are proven they are no longer allegations, are they? They are facts.

Pakistan Are Not Cricket Cheats Just Victims Of Racism (Photos And Video)

The allegations are that Amir and Asif delivered three no-balls as part of a pre-arranged betting scam as Pakistan played England at Lord’s. And that the team’s captain Butt was in on it. Mr Butt tells a news conference:

“I would say that everybody in this team has given 100%.”

But the question is not what was given but what was taken? Butt adds:

“These are just allegations and anybody can stand out and say anything about you, doesn’t make them true.”

Butt speaks well. He appears open and frank.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Yousef Raza Gilani the allegations made his country “bow its head in shame“. Allegations can hurt when you have history.

As for the match, England 446 beat Pakistan 74 and 147 by an innings and 225 runs.

Pakistan Cricket’s Match-Fixing Scandal Is A Good Story With Few Facts

If that is Pakistan giving it 100%, we say more of the same, please. And if those rumours about bettering scandals in Germany, Italy, Holland, Spain, Brazil and pretty much every other country on the planet are true, then we say football has been done a terrible disservice and the World Cup cannot come round soon enough…

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Pakistan's captain Salman Butt boards the team bus as the Pakistan cricket team leave the Team Hotel in Swiss Cottage, London.



Posted: 29th, August 2010 | In: Sports Comment | TrackBack | Permalink