Cricket holds its breath for verdicts

DOHA is not a venue that is synonymous with the game of cricket, but the high-stakes game currently being played out in the Qatar capital will provide the sport with one of its watershed moments.

Cricket's world governing body, the ICC, has, to date, acted swiftly in all its actions related to the alleged spot-fixing scandal which hit the game so publicly during the Pakistan against England test at Lords last summer. The three-man panel, appointed by the ICC to hear the case, has, however, now delayed its verdict on the three players until another hearing on 5 February. Representatives of the players have, not unreasonably, asked the panel for time to give the issues careful consideration and to provide written reasons for findings.

Under the chairmanship of the renowned Michael Beloff QC, the panel has been hearing the ICC and defence cases for the past six days. It has also now emerged that the panel were also investigating a charge against the Pakistan captain Salman Butt for the Oval test match in the same series last summer. It is not an over exaggeration to say the three players have their integrity and careers firmly on the line, and the sport of cricket has a real opportunity to bare its teeth in its ongoing and vital fight against corruption if wrong-doing is proved.