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| Zulqarnain Haider quits International scene, aged 24 (PA) |
It has been reported Zulqarnain Haider, Pakistan's wicket-keeper, and a rising star, has retired today, amidst fresh match-fixing scandals in Dubai, regarding the series between Pakistan and South Africa.It was only Friday that 24-year old Haider, hit the winning runs in the One Day International versus their counterparts, only the flee the team hotel on Monday before the fifth match and final one of the series.
This dark cloud that loomed over Pakistan during their tour to England has seemed to re-appeared, but this time it has took a young professional to come out immediately and take action himself to prevent any further damage to the game. Earlier in the year, we saw Mohammed Asif, Mohammad Amir and Salman Butt all axed from the tour as a result of fixing play, which has now put the game under scrutiny, and after this, it now seems like this won't be the last of the scandal.
The wicket-keeper has reportedly quoted, ""It is best to retire from international cricket since my family and I are constantly getting threats."
On Friday, where allegedly the betting was took place, Pakistan beat South Africa by one wicket, and Zulqarnain hit the winning runs to draw the series level. However, he was told that to "cooperate with us, and you will make a lot of money."
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| Zulqarnain, (left), hits winning runs in the 4th ODI thriller vs. South Africa. (BBC) |
If these reports of Zulqarnain are true, that he will retire, then this is an absolute shame. At 24-years of age, he has many years ahead of him, and could become one of the best keepers in the world in a few years, but cheats and money forced him to seek political asylum in the UK.
How low has the game, that I personally love to play, and love to watch, become? Back to the England series, the three players involved were, and still are a disgrace to their country for allowing money to rule the game, and ruin the game. Professionally wiser, and older than Zulqarnain, Butt and Asif should of took a leaf out of this young man's book, and allow cricket to come out on top. Despite Amir being 19, there is no doubt he has let everyone down, with such an exceptional talent, and a breath of fresh air in the game, he now has a reputation that will forever stay with him.
We would all love money. We would all love to have lots of money. I would. I'm not disputing that. But, to be playing cricket for your nation, you should show pride, and dignity, and be proud and no matter what is offered to you, you should NOT get involved in scandals such as this.
Zulqarnain is a massive credit to himself, and to stand up to foul and corrupt people behind this, shows great character about the Pakistani.
The ICC now need to take a massive stance against match-fixing.
This is not just recently, this has happened in the past.
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| Cronje was found out with links to corruption. (Mail) |
Former South African captain, Hanse Cronje, who died in a plane crash in 2002, was caught out match fixing, with admissions he had took bribes from bookmakers to 'provide information and fix matches'.
Granted immunity from prosecution, Cronje told the King Commission he received around $US140,000 from bookmakers, including $US110,000 from Gupta for information on team selection, daily forecasts and when he would declare against India at Cape Town in January 1997. He denied ever fixing the actual result of a match. He also admitted telling the South African team, before the Mohinder Amarnath benefit game at Mumbai in December 1996, that there was $US200,000 (some sources said $250,000) on the table if they played badly. The team actually debated whether to accept the money before rejecting it; no one reported the matter to the authorities.- Hansie Cronje, cricinfo.com.
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| Azharuddin was banned for life. (TopNewsIn) |
Ex-India skipper Mohammad Azharuddin was hit with a life time ban after being found guilty. He was found guilty of fixing three one day international matches after it was revealed he amongst three other cricketers had links with bookmakers.
These are two other major examples of corruption in cricket, and the ICC now have to find a way of clamping out, or at the least clamp down on this sorry state of affairs, and clean up the game of cricket, before it spirals out of control.
What most people consider this a 'gentleman's game', this game has now become a target for players like Zulqarnain, but the cricketing world now needs to follow in the footsteps of him, and take action before something serious happens.
