The PCB reacted harshly, and it was clear they were minded to sack their captain.But Rashid has probably got it wrong. At first, it seemed that Rashid might have opened yet another can of worms. He retired from international cricket for several seasons but has been made captain of a new Pakistan team who have shed several famous names.It had been generally supposed that the ICC had tackled the scandal with the establishment of their Anti-Corruption Unit headed by Lord Condon, and the appointment of five worldwide security officers attached to international teams.But Rashid insisted that while the results of matches were no longer being rigged, the ICC had an obligation to eliminate “fancy fixing”. The ICC were also caught unawares by Latif’s demands over what he described as “fancy fixing”, and will respond this week.Samiul Hasan of the PCB said: “Rashid has told the board how much he regrets writing as he did, and has assured us he will be making no further comments on the matter.
His contrition for writing an open letter urging the ICC “to take immediate practical steps” may just save his job as Pakistan’s captain.
The Pakistan Cricket Board were embarrassed when Latif’s letter was published on a website last week. Rashid Latif has apologised for making renewed calls to the International Cricket Council to stop match-fixing. Matsikenyeri was utterly confused by the ball spinning across him and played and missed regularly until he was put out of his misery after 12 deliveries.Adams’s eight overs cost only 26 runs: “He has become a lot more consistent,” said Smith, who was himself in a much better frame of mind than after the six-wicket defeat by England a week ago “We were really nervous against England We are relaxed now.” We have been warned.. (They looked like two schoolboys on an outing, said the team spokesman fondly.) They were both embarrassed by Paul Adams, the 25-year-old left-arm “frog in a blender” spinner.
Streak did reach his fifty with a splendid six to long-off, but you can imagine what sort of performance it was when you learn that the scoring rate did not reach three an over until the 42nd over.South Africa’s bowlers did Zimbabwe no favours. He had reached 58 out of 154 when he was caught at the wicket off Sean Ervine’s first ball.It is hard to remember anything of distinction from Zimbabwe’s batting. He was man of the match.Smith, who had not done much better than Gibbs before yesterday, scoring 44 in three innings, was not so good to look at but no less effective. Gibbs, whose three previous scores were 1, 5 and 5, was bowled by Andy Blignaut when he was 17, but by a no-ball. (“I’ve got to thank him for helping me out,” Gibbs said.) After that, he played with the fluency we expect.
Glancing finely to fine leg, hitting hard and square on both sides of the wicket and driving elegantly through the covers – and inelegantly too, off the back foot for six His 93 came off 97 balls. And Zimbabwe have already proved difficult: “Maybe there’s more self-belief that we can beat England,” Heath Streak said.The consequences of defeat would be fearful to contemplate, because England would need to beat South Africa at Edgbaston on Tuesday and then hope that Zimbabwe lost again to the South Africans at the Rose Bowl in Southampton on Thursday.The good news for South Africa yesterday was the return to form of Herschelle Gibbs and their captain, Graeme Smith. Because South Africa knocked off the runs so quicky they got a bonus point and Zimbabwe did not. There was a lot more noise when South Africa batted: 22 fours and two sixes in 34.2 overs.
The good news from Cardiff for England is that Zimbabwe’s performance helped England’s uphill struggle to qualify for next weekend’s NatWest Series final at Lord’s. Quite literally, because a snatch of music accompanies each boundary and it was surprising to learn that the Piranhas and the rest had uttered 19 times in Zimbabwe’s innings. Zimbabwe keep their inspired one-day performances for their games against England. We may well know the answer to that before the end of this summer, with a five-match series coming up..
