Disclaimer: I am sorry if i have hurt any Pakistani supporters feelings.
"Hey dude! Pakistan won the match!!"
"Huh! Probably the match was fixed!!"
This is the most general view of the Indian public. We associate probably all the victories of our "dear" neighbours!! Is it our hatred towards them or their close relationship with the word "Controversy", I am not sure. Well I too belong in the class of such thoughts and always love to see Pakistan loose (except when a loss could mean a world record victory streak of Australia)!!
Recent allegations against them further dents their reputation. A talented bunch of cricketers ,who excite the world with their sheer in-born talent are suddenly overshadowed by the ghost of Match fixing. All the credentials of a Mohammed Amer, Asif, Umar Akmal, Wahab Riaz are forgotten and they are seen as a bunch of guys who sold themselves. The incredible story of Zulqarnain Haider is suddenly forgotten amidst speculations and accusations. A great test series is suddenly forgotten.
Shahid Afridi couldn't have chosen a better time to retire as it saves him a number of uncomfortable press conferences. The new skipper ,Salman But, comes in and finds himself in the centre of all the debacle alongwith Amer and Asif whom ability to swing and seam the red cherry like a banana amazed spectators throughout the summer. The sting operation video ,operated by a British Tabloid, probably had more hits than the supposed money made by the players.
Pakistan's new found ability of getting bundled out 100 almost every time they batted in the test series against England seiously was sowing doubts in minds of the spectators and supportes (not mentioning their butter fingers which supposedly have become their speciality in the field!!). After the video was aired, not only Pakistan but also their opposition's reputation took blow.
Was Stuart Broad really good enough to outscore the entire Pakistan team in both innings?
Was it really Anderson or Pakistani batsmen themselves who made the pitch look like it had demons in it?
Was Pakistan's win over the Aussies really hard won or Australian palyers wanted to make some extra bucks?
Was Randiv's no-ball had some bigger reasons than denying Sehwag a ton?
Such questions will keep coming in cricket lovers mind. Australian cricketers had to come into press to state that they were clean.
The Cricket has taken a severe blow in the time of identity crisis for cricket itself. How can one take interest in watching a match whose result is probably decided and when one feels that he is just watching a recording of the match?
Is BCCI also somehow responsible for this incident because if they had allowed the Pak players to participate in the IPL, they too would have carried fat paycheques back home and probably wouldn't have required to make some extra bucks by falling through such lows?
Pakistan will keep on producing raw talents but such incidents will always be a spot on Pakistani Cricket, a question mark would be there on each individual after every every good or bad show. The ball of magic of new Pakistani quickie will raise doubts whether it was his mesmerising talent or some extra cash paid to the batter to make him look such. The huge six was the poof of the talent of the new mavrick of Pakistan or was it a bookie's gift through the bowler.
Its not only sad for Pakistan but all Cricket lovers.
Shame all the Culprits.
