Its a long post from someone who has never felt bad in the month of March ever ever before than in 2007. Please understand that these are just my opinions and how I feel.
Though 2007 ICC Cricket WorldCup had a special value for me as it kicked off on my Birthday, it was far from special for my team and my nation. For us, It was a bad start but who knew that it will worsen and will end up as one of the worst sports tournament, hindered with controversies - resulting in a murder of an innocent man.
If I were to go back and do it all over again, I would, but without the blessing of ICC. This WorldCup was all but controversies from the beginning. Under-prepared West Indians had Fewer stadiums which resulted in Indian Government & Private companies taking over the re-building of stadiums and so on. An unaccounted WorldCup which failed to provide security & discipline from Day one.
Many questions can be raised from the poor job by groundsman and a very very ordinary umpiring standards - especially in the group D, ( I am referring to SA umpire (B. Jerlings) who has made 14 wrong decisions so far) and to the unfortunate murder of Bob Woolmer.
All speculations rest aside, ICC has done a dismal job managing this WordCup from the opening bowl till now. Controversies ranging from Flintoff, Doping and now the murder. Though it’s too early to speculate but a theory surrounding this Worldcup is the dark shadow casted by the infamous betting mafia. Who knows better than our Indian counterparts who actually helped the poor West Indians board to organize this tournament. They also helped them to prepare for pitches and grounds. Today the betting mafia resides in the mahalas of Delhi, high rise of Mumbai or the booming Delhi - It’s India. Though Pakistan and Sri-Lanka also share few of the crooks, it no way near the magnitude the giant India can provide.
When Sarfaraz Nawaaz pointed out in his article about ICC’s lack of control or willingness on betting, most of the people in this forum called him ‘unpatriotic’, ‘a coward’, ‘a lier’. I ask you now, that doesn’t it ring a bell where his opinions stood?
This whole Worldcup was rigged from the day one and it will be till the end. We may see Pakistani loss to Ireland or Indian loss to Bangladesh a poor performances but one can also view this as a hefty payday for some - The underbelly of cricket, the betting mafia operational in the sub-continent. If you are familiar of what is the biggest rigged sports, then read about how betting mafia in horse racing works. How rough these mafias could be - Threats, Money, Sex & Violence. Its no different in Cricket. ICC & players are as much at fault as these criminals.
I think the way ICC has handled the Woolmer crisis is shameful. They are treating this shameful incident as it does happen. Even the US-centric CNN had this news on their home page as a breaking news. Malcom Speed has failed to capture and understand the impact of this incident not only on this WorldCup, but largely, on Cricket – The Game. There is much more needed from ICC & it has been a mere spectator for a long time. Or its hands are tied by this underbelly of cricket?
As a fan, I am ashamed. As a Pakistani, I am terrified. As a person, I am angry. I want answers as much as Woolmer deserved it. Nothing has surrounded but controversies in any sports which is followed by over 1.5 billion people in the world. A sport which is like a religion to most of these people. A sport which has mesmerized me & all of you from the day we held that tennis ball & bat. Now is this the sport I wanted to be the fan off? No, I did not. It is shame for me because it has let me down.
In my previous posts, I blamed Pakistani Team. It’s correct, they have to share the blame for poor performance but it also lies more on ICC, West Indies Cricket Board and the betting mafia - which ICC proclaims to be long dead.
Just to make it short…
What will happen now? I think, No one will find what happened to Woolmer, very much same as the death of 2 sub-continent bookies a year ago, and the plane crash of Hensie Cronje which is still an open case. (For those who don’t know, Cronje - former SA Captain was charged with betting in India under Bob Woolmer). Or even if we do catch someone, he will be some fall-guy named Lee Harvey Oswald. Bob Woolmer had mentioned that he would write a book if he decides to retire after WC as coach (which he certainly would have after Pakistan’s dreadful & dismal exit). In his book a lot of ‘good’ details or I would say, ‘unwanted sensational disclosures’ could have come out regarding his tenure as a coach both in Pakistan & South Africa. (Cronje was caught dealing with an Indian Bookie for match-fixing in India when Bob was their Coach). It also could have brought more details that we don’t know. It seriously could have damaged a lot of ‘respectable’ men surrounding the game & ICC.
Now back to current World Cup. I think the only South Asian team who can beat South Africa or Australia, or the team who shares a great chance to win the WC 2007 - Sri-Lanka, will loose tomorrow to a rather weaker Indian side. Why? - Rhetorically, No India in super 8, No money of ICC. No India in super 8, No money for bookies. No India in Super 8, No money from spectators. So hold your horses as India is going to win, not because they are a stronger side but just because come tomorrow, Sri-Lanka will be a weaker side. Now this scenario can be reverse just based on the betting odds.
So now how we find who perpetrated this horrendous crime. As a sayings goes around with cops, “follow the money”. I say the same, " Just follow the money."
Conclusively, I wish I was wrong. I wish ICC could do more. I wish we could get a grip on this betting mafia, I wish we will know the truth about Woolmer & Cronje’s deaths and I wish that the earth looses its gravity by tomorrow - But it won’t, as nor all of the above.