Is ECB so innocent??

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Well I want to raise one point which has been bothering me since this debacle began and especially for my friends who are saying that one days should be played as planned (some believe even if inzi is fined and/or banned) since its not ECB’s fault at all, why should the English fans suffer, the monetary fines which may be imposed against Pakistan etc etc..

I, for one, have doubts about ECB bieng so innocent as it seems. Reasons:
**

  1. The whole affair began, according to tales sweeping the Oval ground, when an England and Wales Cricket Board official went to the umpires’ dressing room in the morning and asked them to watch out for ball tampering by the Pakistan players.**
    **

  2. Hair’s decision was prompted by a complaint from Kevin Pietersen, according to the Pakistan management. It is hard to understand how you could confirm tampering of a ball that was over 56 old and had been belted to the boundary and beyond on plentiful occasions.

source:
http://www.hindu.com/2006/08/21/stories/2006082105221700.htm
Ted Corbett**
**
http://dawn.com/2006/08/21/top3.htm
Kamran Abbasi

**The England and Wales cricket board official is alledgedly none other than ECB coach Duncan Flecher.

We all know how close England Australia block is on ICC. They r better halves of each other in the ICC board room, no matter what the tension is on Ashes cricket ground. Two faces of the same coin!!

It may be the case that they open the pandora box a bit too much for their own liking this time and did not expect things to unfold as badly as they did , and the purpose was to intimidate. This is merely a speculation, no proofs for it, but seeing the way things are… ICC appointing Hair in 2 of the 3 test matches played in Pakistan and now again 2 of the 4 matches in England (Both series against England), England very well knowing his bais against Pakistan and not saying a word against (rather accepting it happily), ICC not really giving a **** of Pakistan’s request as usual… Its quite messy if u really ask my opinion.

Personally, being a proud Pakistani as I am like most of my friends here, I prefer to abandon the tour completely if Inzi is handed ANY SORT OF FINE OR BAN. It will be great insult to continue and we’ll be acknowleding of being cheats and bringing the game in dispute if we agree to serve the ban or pay the fine. Nothing is bigger than, as inzi said, ‘Respect’ of a country!!

Regards to all …

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Re: Is ECB so innocent??

Absolutely agreed,English are not so innocent,they presumed that Pakistanis will surely temper the ball,so it means that they always think of us as cheaters,which is unacceptable.

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Re: Is ECB so innocent??

Well well well… its all over the media today… and its becoming really BIG now. my worst fears turning out to be right !! similar news in *Telegraph *and Independant as welll.

Did England trigger tampering row?
Cricinfo staff
August 22, 2006

** A report in today’s Daily Telegraph claims that Sunday’s ball-tampering row was triggered by a visit by Duncan Fletcher, England’s coach, to Mike Procter, the match referee, before the start of the fourth day’s play. **
An ECB spokesman confirmed that Fletcher had met with Procter on Sunday morning but denied he had made a “specific complaint about the state of the ball”. However, the newspaper went on to say that sources close to the team have stated that Fletcher played a part in drawing the officials’ attention to certain issues.
No officials were available for comment yesterday, and with Inzamam-ul-Haq’s hearing scheduled for Friday, none would have said anything anyway. If true, however, it would explain Darrell Hair’s sudden interest in the state of the ball on Sunday afternoon.
The report goes on to state that England’s players were concerned on Saturday and notes that Marcus Trescothick was “spotted watching Pakistan’s players through binoculars, presumably to ascertain what actions they were performing on the ball”. **It added that Fletcher had also made enquiries as to why Sky TV cameras were not following the ball more closely as it was passed around the Pakistan fielders during the Headingley Test. **
If it turns out that Fletcher did make an approach to Procter about the ball then the good relations between the two sides, which have been maintained despite the row at The Oval, will almost certainly nosedive, adding to the possibility that the one-day series might become another casualty of the row.
© Cricinfo

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Re: Is ECB so innocent??

Heard on radio this morning that Fletcher did not go into the umpires room but the refrees room, who was not there so no conversation took place.

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Re: Is ECB so innocent??

A spokeman for ECB confirmed that Fletcher did go to the match referees room but didnt talk about the condition of the ball.
As far as the tour goes i think those 11 on the field on sunday afternoon shouldnt be playing. Pakistan should honour its commitment and play the ODI's but with a different team.Because the whole team stands accused not just Inzi. So by fielding a different 11 we can honour our commitment and support our captain as well.

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Re: Is ECB so innocent??

One thing these Goras are now gettin to understand is that we have taken this very very seriously. I heard Bob Willis on Sky sunday evening and he was saying that Pakistanis shouldnt be taking this seriously and this is a sporting matter not a political bla bla bla..... Interesting to note that yesterday he said Pakistan are a very proud nation and they have taken this seriously and are hearting by this alegation. So i guess the level of our protest is n
now making them realise that its not just a matter of pointing a finger to one individual.

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Re: Is ECB so innocent??

England's hands are certainly not clean in this affair as they had pretented to be. And to say we want to continue this tour......... !! anyways things will become more clear after the hearing on friday i guess.

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Re: Is ECB so innocent??

:D

makes sense