A bracket of overs whether against regulated western bookies or unregulated illegal ones on the subcontinent makes more sense, because as Ratty suggested surely anyone would get ever so slightly suspicious about someone trying to bet any sort of large sum on a no ball from a specific ball.

It looks as if they may have been far too clever for their own good here, maybe in trying to prove themselves to the NOTW. 

For in the bowlers allegedly been given specific balls to bowl no balls, they have had to make absolutely sure ( for one thing you're still relying on the umpire giving it, it might look a bit suspicious if Pakistan tried to appeal that they really did bowl a no ball ! ) and hence they have been such big no balls that commentators have remarked at the time.

Again, if they had just said to NOTW, no ball or number of no balls in a timeframe, say an over or two, the bowlers wouldn't have had to make sure it was noticed, knowing that they had more chances left.

By trying to be so ( not ) clever, it loooks like the alleged conspirators have allowed absolutely daming evidence to be left when the bigger timeframe and less obvious no balls would haver been more defendible.

Re the upcoming one day internationals and T20s, if played they will be played in a very difficult atmosphere.  Sport loses almost everything when both specators and participants can't fully believe what they are watching.  I guess anyone that may be involved in the alleged fixes will be on best behavior but still....

In the longer term, if allegations are proven, Pakistan must be suspended from international cricket for at least a year, during which they take steps to sort themselves out much more.  OK, they may not be directly responsible for the conspiracies but their inaction in the past and now stains them.  WTF have at least 3 players, captain and the two bowlers for a start, not been suspended by Pakistan already while enquiries continue, no guilt implied, but just due to very clear suspicion ?!  Instead management mouth stuff like nothing proven.

Longer term some big bans for some players.  Life is a difficult one, especially for such as an 18 yo young bowler, since it looks possible that both they and indeed their family were under enormous prsssure.  OK, what they allegedly did was very wrong, but they have been no doubt got at by the bad guys and for their whole career to be doomed, too much I think.

It's the real bad guys that need sought out with much more help from the Pakistan authorities.

-- Edited by indiana on Monday 30th of August 2010 12:34:10 PM

Confirmed by himself on Twitter:


"Yep.. Done for rest of summer!! Man of the World Cup T20 and dropped from the T20 side too.. Its a **** up!! Surrey have signed me for l ..."