Butt and Asif- The spot fixing verdict

Perhaps it's a case of the sentences for the more serious crimes you mentioned being too lenient rather than the sentences for a crime like this being too harsh?

That's moot really, fact is they are lenient, so this punishment should be downscaled accordingly.

It's official then - messrs Butt, Amir and Asif are CHEATING QUNTS

Guilty as can be.

Welly well well. Nice to see justice prevailing occasionally.

I'm with Danny.

If either of them get 7 years in prison it will be one of the most hideously harsh sentences I've seen. Butt's crime did not really harm any individual - just abstract concepts like "sport" and "the spirit of cricket", along with perhaps a few bookies (who can be compensated). WTF would you put someone in jail for that? Alongside rapists and murderers he'd be like Andy Dufrane (?) in The Shawshank Redemption.

Losing his livelihood, his reputation and his source of income along with a heavy fine would have been more than adequate. There is a difference between punishing someone for doing something wrong and getting some sort of thrill out of grinding a man into dust. There is no glory or justice in it. It's just heavy handed.

Assuming he has no criminal record, any jail time would be a joke. Asif, perhaps, is a different case, with his doping and heroin smuggling exploits in the past.

Perhaps you could transport them to the colonies.

The ICC need to revisit their previous punishments on Butt, Amir and Asif and ban them FOR LIFE.

They also need to suspend Pakistan from ALL international cricket pending investigation into possible further corruption.

What they've done is basically theft.

They clearly knew it was wrong and illegal; they didn't need to do it because they were starving or needed to pay for cancer treatment for their kids. It was done purely out of greed and with disregard for the consequences for others.

Hard to feel remotely sorry for them. Having said that, 7 years in gaol would be excessive.

It's hard to see how Butt and Asif can appeal - as Amir has pleaded guilty - some sort of custodial sentence is essential if the cancer of match fixing is to be cured.

I love cricket

I love the drama and the unpredictability

If the players at elite levels are playing not to their merits on purpose(or to order) ...be it for one ball , three balls or a whole match ...then it shakes my confidence in the game

If I have no confidence in the game why would I shell out $50 to $100 a day to watch a game live or bother watching it (and the associated ads that pay for the coverage) on tv ...or even bother looking up a result on cricinfo

If I do something minor in my job that shakes the confidence of my "punters" I get punished harshly for it ...cricket is no different and has a far bigger "punter base" than I have

There was a report that global gambling on cricket was worth $50 billion per year. Whether you like it or not if your actions threaten an industry that big then 7 years jail is garq all ...Bernie Madoff got 150 years

embee wrote:I love cricket

I love the drama and the unpredictability

If the players at elite levels are playing not to their merits on purpose(or to order) ...be it for one ball , three balls or a whole match ...then it shakes my confidence in the game

If I have no confidence in the game why would I shell out $50 to $100 a day to watch a game live or bother watching it (and the associated ads that pay for the coverage) on tv ...or even bother looking up a result on cricinfo

If I do something minor in my job that shakes the confidence of my "punters" I get punished harshly for it ...cricket is no different and has a far bigger "punter base" than I have

There was a report that global gambling on cricket was worth $50 billion per year. Whether you like it or not if your actions threaten an industry that big then 7 years jail is garq all ...Bernie Madoff got 150 years

Quite

Punishment is very harsh

Have to wonder if the slump in PAK cricket from 2007 to 2010 was mainly due to fixing? Despite losing arguably the 2 finest bowlers in world cricket Pakistan have only lost 1 test match(while winning 4) since the spot fixing saga.

PlanetPakistan wrote:Punishment is very harsh

Have to wonder if the slump in PAK cricket from 2007 to 2010 was mainly due to fixing? Despite losing arguably the 2 finest bowlers in world cricket Pakistan have only lost 1 test match(while winning 4) since the spot fixing saga.

The only punishment handed out is what the ICC has deemed fit to hand out. The Judge's decision is still pending. What is "harsh" about punishing cheats?

7 year thing is very harsh.

PlanetPakistan wrote:7 year thing is very harsh.

That is a maximum and none of them have been sentenced yet - that will follow. But seriously, a custodial sentence is imperative if corruption is even going to start to be challenged.

There are rumors that Afridi blew whistle after this game.


http://www.espncricinfo.com/asia2010/engine/current/match/455231.html

Basil wrote:

PlanetPakistan wrote:7 year thing is very harsh.

That is a maximum and none of them have been sentenced yet - that will follow. But seriously, a custodial sentence is imperative if corruption is even going to start to be challenged.

The youngster who co-operated would be most unlikely to get a custodial sentence

Asif guilty of one charge is likely to get a suspended sentence and a fine

Butt may get 6 months in the slammer.

Given the disgust being expressed in Stanland I expect the latter 2 would think 2ce before heading back to Islamanogood

G.Wood wrote:Perhaps you could transport them to the colonies.

Um, isn't that what transportation means?

horace wrote:

Basil wrote:

PlanetPakistan wrote:7 year thing is very harsh.

That is a maximum and none of them have been sentenced yet - that will follow. But seriously, a custodial sentence is imperative if corruption is even going to start to be challenged.

The youngster who co-operated would be most unlikely to get a custodial sentence

Asif guilty of one charge is likely to get a suspended sentence and a fine

Butt may get 6 months in the slammer.

Given the disgust being expressed in Stanland I expect the latter 2 would think 2ce before heading back to Islamanogood

Disgust? They'll be back playing for Pakistan in a couple of years....

I would amazed if either go back there

There are some reports that each and every test match of Pak's Eng tour last year was fixed in some way.

Disgusting really. Makes you think is this why you follow cricket like religion? Wake up at odd hours to see cricketers in action? Celebrate when they take wickets or make runs or when they reach some milestone?

embee wrote:I love cricket

I love the drama and the unpredictability

If the players at elite levels are playing not to their merits on purpose(or to order) ...be it for one ball , three balls or a whole match ...then it shakes my confidence in the game

If I have no confidence in the game why would I shell out $50 to $100 a day to watch a game live or bother watching it (and the associated ads that pay for the coverage) on tv ...or even bother looking up a result on cricinfo

If I do something minor in my job that shakes the confidence of my "punters" I get punished harshly for it ...cricket is no different and has a far bigger "punter base" than I have

There was a report that global gambling on cricket was worth $50 billion per year. Whether you like it or not if your actions threaten an industry that big then 7 years jail is garq all ...Bernie Madoff got 150 years

Sage.

(Not bad MB... not bad ol son! Well constructed.)

Given it's multiple incidents involving (at least) three players it's clear it's no isolated occurrence, so I think Pakistan should have been suspended from international cricket pending a full investigation and an anti-corruption action plan.

Trouble is the other Asian countries wouldn't accept it as they're more interested in vote winning and maintaining their position of power.

out of the $50 billion gambling industry probably 95% is illegal. gambling on cricket is banned in india and its neighbouring countries

so in essence butt may have led to losses amongst the mafia. which really is not something that generates sympathy or anger

7 years is a bit much. but a few months would 'maybe' deter others