In a thrilling week for cricket on the field, headlines are currently dominated by Zulqarnain Haider's cold war style defection to the UK on the eve of the final ODI between Pakistan and South Africa. Until the "facts" are known we can expect a riot of speculation all centring around match fixing, dodgy betting types and the role of Pakistan's cricketers in corruption.
Already some are demanding Pakistan's expulsion from the game while the ICC are relying on respected pillars of the world cricketing community, such as Peter Chingoka and Giles Clarke, to sort out the mess. I don't expect a resolution any time soon and warn you all to look out for uninformed generalisations, self-righteous soul searching and knee jerk extremism from critics who repeatedly single out Pakistan as the source of all that's wrong in cricket whilst conveniently ignoring the rich and ignoble tradition of cricket corruption that stretches back to 18th Century England, taking in pretty much every test playing nation along the way.
All of which is not to say that match/spot fixing is not a serious matter that requires investigation. Simply that no one who knows what's going on is letting on, either through fear of the gangs who run the scams,or of being sued for libel, or of being ostracised by their fellow players.
So I shall talk about the cricket. And what a bizarre series of games we've recently witnessed. The test match in Ahmedebad turned out to be thrilling on and off until lunch on day 5. Sehwag's 173 was perhaps the most disdainful hundred of all time. Even he couldn't be bothered after a while and called for a shooting stick to sit on between facing balls. Ryder and Williamson batted with more sense, circumspection and skill than anyone could have predicted, and then Martin knocked over 5 of the best top seven in world cricket for next to nothing. Only once before has India lost its first five wickets for fewer than 15 runs.
At this point, late on day 4, the match was well and trully on. But extraordinarily defensive fields from Vettori on day 5 and what can only be cowardly defeatism from Dhoni after lunch ensured the match petered out into a draw. The result will suit the New Zealanders who must be buoyed by having held the number one side in the world with only one fit seamer and five competent batsmen including their skipper.
There are three back to back tests so perhaps Dhoni was hoping to tire the Kiwis, but they will bring in fresh bowlers for the second test. Not to have a crack at the feeblest batting line up in world cricket (barring possibly Bangladesh, though that isn't certain) on a 5th day wicket after beating the Aussies twice a month ago does not inspire the fear in opponents that one associated with the great West Indian and Australian number one sides of the past. And without the fear, India are only number one by dint of going unbeaten for 11 series, all of them on the subcontinent barring their victory in New Zealand. The Saffers will be licking their lips (a trully hideous image, I grant you).
The Pakistan v. SA series was a corker. Pakistan even managed to turn a thumping defeat in yesterday's match into an exciting contest merely by the threat of what Razzaq could do.
Razzaq is a trully bizarre cricketer. Once he's in he's more in than anyone. Like an anti-Sehwag (who looks more comfortable for the first 100 balls before his mind drifts to God knows what). His hundred in the 2nd ODI is still my highlight of the year. Encouraging signs for Pakistan emerged in the performances of Wahab "The Jacket" Riaz, both with ball and bat, and in Mohammed Hafeez's all round display. To take a strong Saffer side to five sets is pretty impressive. To do it when your 1st choice bowling attack is suspended, your senior batsmen are short of form and match fitness and the world is scrutinising your every move for signs of match fixing is nothing short of a miracle.
It's been grand couple of weeks on the field. But be warned; we've got a fortnight of Zulqainain fall out and Aussie pre Ashes posturing to endure before we can concentrate again on the cricket.