SPOT-FIXING IN PAKISTAN’S TOUR OF ENGLAND

SPOT-FIXING IN PAKISTAN’S TOUR OF ENGLAND

SPECULATIONS

The fourth test match in the ongoing Pakistan’s tour of England has thrown up some shocking facts to say the least. Some of the facts have already cropped up during the investigation process but some are still in the dark. Here are some of the possibilities in the scandal:
WHAT WE KNOW: Mazhar Majeed – the Pakistani agent spot fixed two no balls for certain which is evident from the videos that were surfaced by the British newspaper News of the World – one that was delivered by Mohammed Aamer on the first ball of the third over and the other by Mohammed Asif on the last ball of the 10th over. The actual match videos show them overstepping by at least a feet.

SPECULATION: Now in the course of the innings Mohammed Asif bowled a total of 2 no balls whereas Mohammed Aamer bowled 4 no balls and 8 more were bowled by Wahab Riaz. Mohammed Aamer bowled the no balls in (2.1, 18.3, 88.3, 112.3) overs during the England innings. According to the video proof – in the first two no balls he overstepped by at least a foot. Now the question is whether the third and fourth no balls were spot fixed or not as it adds a whole new dimension because after 38.4 overs England were tottering at 102/7 and if the third no ball was indeed fixed then it gives a clear hint to the fact that Pakistan manipulated the match so that it lasts at least till the 89th over which is a very subtle shift from spot fixing to match fixing.

POINTS THAT ADD UP TO THE SPECULATION:
1) After the fall of the 7th wicket Aamer continued for only two more overs.

2) Mohammed Aamer went off the field after the 45th over.

3) After the fall of the 7th wicket only 6 overs were bowled by Mohammed Asif and Mohammed Aamer out of the next 60.

4) The inexperienced pair of Wahab Riaz and Saeed Ajmal were given to bowl after 4 overs of the fall of the 7th wicket allowing the batsmen to settle in.

5) No introduction of Mohammed Aamer into the attack after tea which is again very surprising given the fact that he was the main strike bowler of the team.

The above points do give a hint that perhaps there was something more than spot fixing, maybe the spot fixing led to match fixing but what exactly happened only God knows or maybe Majeed knows.

Soham Sarkhel

Belgium Grand Prix 2010
Preview

Torque, acceleration, angular momentum, gravity – all of these concepts may help if you are a student going to give an examination but perhaps not when you have that steering wheel lodged between your palms and a sly glance at your speedometer shows it hovering around 320kmph. No need to call for the pits though as it’s not for us but the Vettels, the Alonsos and the Hamiltons to prove their mettle and to show their merit on the second half of the season as Formula One resumes after the four week summer break with the Belgium Grand Prix.


The Spa Francorchamps is a very demanding circuit for the drivers and is known to produce classics throughout its history; the steep gradients are more like hillocks and the famous corners like Eau Rouge sets the adrenaline pumping, the most of the track requires a driver pressing on the pedal for a longer period of time, the track also requires a medium to high downforce due to medium to highspeed corners and low speed chicanes; throw in a few gearbox failures, susceptible climate and a surprise coup in the positions like the Force India did last year and we might be in for a scorcher of a ride with the championship being so delicately placed. The difference between the top of the Driver’s Championship Mark Webber and the 5th placed Fernando Alonso is a mere 20 points with Hamilton, Vettel and Button feeling up the 2nd, 3rd and 4th place respectively. In the constructor’s championship Red Bull Racing is at the top with 312 points owing to the superlative performance of their drivers Mark Webber and Sebastien Vettel but snapping on their heels is McLaren-Mercedes on 304 points with Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button riding the team’s fortunes and a win here for any of the top 5 drivers could potentially see them go first.




The Red Bull Racing has a superior chassis which has given them an advantage in almost all of the circuits but its Renault engine may fail to support it this time owing to the long straights, the Ferrari team on the other hand will hold the advantage due to its engine power and they have also been able to catch up with the F-duct and the diffuser system but then again the form of Fernando Alonso has been a bit of a worry for them. One would say McLaren-Mercedes is the most balanced team out of the whole lot but one gets the feeling that this race will more be about grits, confidence, grabbing chances and holding on to them rather than the car specifications helping out the drivers. So, don’t be surprised if you see a certain man named Michael Schumacher smiling his way to the podium for the 7th time in Spa for all you know this maybe the rise of the legend again.

Soham Sarkhel