Save cricket from match-fixing cartels

| Wednesday November 10, 2010 00:00

Clowning moment

When Township Rollers' captain, Joel Mogorosi found himself with acres of space in the Gaborone United (GU) area but missed a yawning net early in the game.

Finest athlete

GU left back, Tshifiwa Kgaswane looked lost in the early stages of the derby on Sunday, but recovered admirably in the second half to aid his team's gallant fight back against Township Rollers.

Talking point

The reports about Pakistan cricket are now too grave to ignore. The Pakistan team was embroiled in damaging match-fixing allegations during their summer tour to England, culminating in the suspension of three players after a tabloid's expose. For years, Pakistan cricket has been warding off serious allegations of match-fixing, and regrettably, the national team has become synonymous with graft that threatens the beautiful game. As the cricket world was still recovering from the devastating effects of the England saga, Pakistan cricket hit a new low on Tuesday when wicket keeper, Zulqarnain Haider disappeared just moments before his team played South Africa. Haider apparently skipped the country and fled to England citing threats on his life from batting cartels after he refused to fix a match. The International Cricket Council (ICC) surely has to deal with the rot and clean the image of the game.

The stat

The number of goals scored and conceded by Premier League sides Black Peril and Miscellaneous. They have the worst record with a goal difference of minus 14.

The quote

'I think the people who are calling him thick have got a certain element of thickness about them, because they haven't even invested the time to speak to him. He doesn't speak to the press that much for them to make that judgment of him,' England midfielder, Frank Lampard defending Wayne Rooney.