Now isn't this a tad fresh!

So its ok for Darrell Hair to say whatever he likes, whenever he likes, but if the PCB and Inzamam make a few comments about the siutation, then they are threatened with potential sanctions! What a feeling!

Did I hear this right!

Sitting here in Helsinki, having my Diet Coke with lime, I was trying to listen to my wife's advice to enjoy the surroundings, when I started hearing things on Sky News. Zaheer Abbas came on, and first attempted to say nothing, but then went on to say that Pakistan would play any match even if the ICC appointed Darrell Hair as umpire for
that specific match. What just happened here?!? I'm not sure, but with all due respect Mr. Abbass, you need to go home.

Well said Mike Atherton

Mike Atherton hits it right on the head here.

So this isn't disrepute?!

How phenomenally amazing! Darrell Hair, in a strange, strange twist, had actually written to the ICC, asking for $500,000 (US) for just simply going away. The ICC, rightfully so, turned him down, but what I found amazing is that Inzamam is being pursued for bringing disrepute to the game, while this guy who wanted PAYOLA!!! is being left to do whatever he so pleases.

What a story folks.

Shouldn't Shaharyar Khan and Zaheer Abbas get fired?!

Wouldn't you just know it. The toadies at the PCB are now also filing in right behind the ICC. Who cares that Pakistan got accused of being a team of cheats. Who cares that Inzamam wasn't even given an explanation for such capricious behaviour by Hair. Who cares that even the English "out-gamed" the Pakistanis. I do, and I'm sure the Pakistani fans and the Pakistani team does. Stand your ground boys!

Wasim knows a spade when he sees it

Quote: Where reverse swing is concerned, I don't believe we are cheats and rest of the world is practising an art form

Pakistan want to get rid of Hair

Here's to hoping that the PCB won't back down on this one.

Critiquing Inzamam

From Fazeer Mohammad, Cricinfo's WI rep.

Woolmer not quitting

Well, Woolmer isn't quitting, not for now.

Inzamam's English at issue?

Interesting article from the Daily Telegraph. From unnamed sources, there is a whole lot being said about what actually happened in the dressing room and the precipitant for the Pakistani team's responses.

Mihir Bose claims, from uncited sources, that not only did Inzamam not understand what happened on the field or why the cricket ball was changed, he did not realize this until he had left the field and the happenings were explained to him. Further, there is some acrimony cited between Inzy and Woolmer, as Inzamam's feelings were that Woolmer was working behind his back with the PCB.

Interestingly, the absence of Zaheer Abbas from the decision making process here is being blamed a great deal for what actually happened. If the issue of language was a significant one, one would have thought that Zaheer Abbas would have sat Inzamam down and explained the situation to him in Urdu and in detail.

I must say, another part of Bose's article which is bothering me, is the absence of sportsmanship by the English side. When they did note what was happening, rather than investigating the situation and finding out why the Pakistani side was unhappy or not coming out onto the field, they ran out to claim the forfeiture, which was within the rules but very likely outside the bounds of sportsmanship.

Regardless, Inzamam's decision to not return to the field without getting an explanation for the capricious shenanigans is still vindicated in my eyes. I just hope that he is not being hung out to dry even by his own board.

Inzy declares war!

Go Inzy! After hearing all the crap over the past few days, Inzamam has given an ultimatum. Clear me, declare the test a no-contest, or we are going back to Pakistan. GO INZY GO!!!

India, the Asian Cricket Council and the Worst Case

In this article, in the times, there is genuine fear that if the ICC does something silly, like ban Inzamam or not do something about the Darrell Hair issue, which they already have said they are not willing to do, the Asian Cricket Council, currently the highest revenue generating arm of the ICC, could very well just simply walk away and tell the 'roos at the ICC to go lump themselves.

What makes this unlikely though, is that India has already come out and said that they support whatever the ICC chooses to do in this situation. I was hoping for a stronger stance from India,
but it appears that India has their own axes to grind here, rather than standing up for principle. Wonder how they would feel if on the next tour, Rahul Dravid is treated this way.

Isn't this the truth!

Bob Woolmer, who has been around cricket for a long time, has come right out and said it. The ICC is closing ranks over this issue, and Inzamam, for taking a true and valiant stand against Darrell Hair's capricious, Nero-like behaviour, will be banned, and quiet likely have his career end.

Now this is why the ICC needs a brain transplant.

What is up with the ICC? Is the current drama already not enough? Now, suddenly Ranjan Madugalle has a personal crisis, and is unable to conduct the Inzy hearing on Friday. Is that because Inzamam has stood and told the ICC that if they convict him in a kangaroo court, he'll take his men, who I am sure will stand behind him through this entire thing, and go home? Costing the ICC and the ECB millions of pounds in revenues from the ODIs? Or is it because the PCB has hired a lawyer to ensure that Inzamam gets more than what passes for justice at the kangaroo ICC?

And now, while tensions are mounting, the ICC has gone ahead and told the PCB that they can take their concerns about Darrell Hair and lump it where the sun don't shine, because the ICC lives in a world far more draconian than even Darrell Hair's. And if Pakistan feel he is unfair, then well they just don't get Darrell Hair's personal brand of justice. What a crock. Is the ICC forgetting that England had all but forgotten cricket prior to last year's Ashes? And the future of the game is in Pakistan and India, not in the tiny little island off France's north coast. Get your
act together ICC, or I will have to start referring to the ICC as the roo boys.

This is why I like the BBC

The BBC's excellent summary of the comments from various experts, players and officials about the shenanigans.

Inzy shows his mettle

Inzamam is refusing to back down. Despite much criticism, Inzamam is now showing the mettle which has made him one of the most successful cricket captains Pakistan has had in their entire history. Refusing to back down, Inzamam commented: "I slept well on Sunday night because I felt I had done the right thing,"

Imran Khan's thoughts

Imran Khan wants Pakistan to sue Hair, but feels that they made a mistake by not playing right after tea. Can't agree with him about the latter, but the former can work.

Pakistan would replay the test?

At least Zaheer Abbas thinks so.

Miandad, Miandad

So, Miandad finds fault with Inzamam. I often agree with Miandad, but this is too much. How can he contend that Pakistan should have continued to play after they had been charged with a crime that they were not allowed to defend themselves from, or even hear any explanations! Can't agree with you here.

Woolmer stands up for the boys

Here, here. Bob Woolmer defends his boys, and stands up for the insult to the Pakistani side. Great line: "I think there was a genuine feeling that, by inference, we had been cheating," Woolmer told Sky Sports. "I personally asked every member of the team, under oath basically, whether they had at any time scratched the ball during the innings and to a man they said no. "I looked at the ball and came to my own conclusions. "I didn't see any undue tampering with the ball - and in 38 years (of involvement in cricket) I have seen tampering with balls,"