ICC bend to Pakistan pressure

The ICC continues to excel itself as a spineless excuse for a world governing body if reports that Pakistan have been able to persuade the ICC board to change the result of the 2006 Oval Test are to be believed. The match was originally awarded to England after Pakistan refused to leave the dressing room because the umpires (note, not just Darrell Hair but both of them) accused them of ball-tampering. The basis for that allegation and the removal of Hair from the ICC elite panel have no relevance here; the central fact is that Pakistan, like all sides, are paid to provide a spectacle and they failed to do so. It doesn't matter how aggrieved they were, they failed in their main duty to play cricket. Personally I think they should have received a bigger punishment than just forfeiting the Test. If Paul Collingwood can be banned... [read full story]