There is little doubt that if Pakistan was a racehorse it would have been swabbed by now.
There have been allegations that the fix was in at Sydney. None of these allegations have surfaced in the mainstream media because of the old juicy laws of libel, which can be a profitable earner for the professional litigant thanks to, amongst other things, the ACT Supreme Court.
So, did Pakistani vice-captain and wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal fall, or was he pushed? He did miss four catches and a relatively straight forward run out, which has raised eyebrows in some quarters, but he has form in this department.
Some critics say he has lost games before. He dropped Lara during the World Cup a few years ago, never a good ploy. And has made some howler missed stumpings but, well, he kept getting selected on the basis of his batting. So what does that say about the Pakistani selectors?
But there was more to this than some inconsistency from the gloveman. Cricket is not a one man game. It would be a difficult job for one person to work alone to ensure the correct outcome for a punter or bookmaker on a cricket test. But there are the 'exotic' bets - highest scores, next wicket to fall, etc.
As far as Kamran throwing the game, the conservative captaincy of the Cat Stevens of world cricket, Mohommed Yousef, played a big part in Siddle and the little Hussey putting on the lead that they did. A lead that proved a winning lead.
Maybe they are all just playing us for mugs? It wouldn't be the first time.
But either way, reserve wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed will make his Test debut for Pakistan against Australia in Hobart on Thursday. Apparently Kamran's brother Umar is having a sulk and may not be fit to play.
At this rate the Hobart show will be all over by tea on the third day.
This is a tragedy as a country like Pakistan needs a win right now. With the Talibs on one side and Uncle Sam on the other, life is not much fun in the land beneath the ancient Kush. One would hope a bit of Pashtun pride and Kashmiri dignity will see them, at least, compete.
God willing, it will be so. But maybe god has given up on Pakistani cricket as well.
Methuselah - playing forward defensively to the flighted ball
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