LONDON: England Test captain Andrew Strauss has insisted his side is prepared to play against Pakistan players named in the spot-fixing trial that led to three cricketers being jailed.
But the opener warned that, despite the impact of the case, it was too soon to say that corruption had been eradicated from world cricket.
“It’s their obligation and duty to pick the best side they think is available to them,” said Strauss prior to the team’s departure for the UAE. “The spot-fixing stuff is something we’re desperately keen to move on from. I don’t think there’s any good that can come from churning it all up again and it’s time to just concentrate on the cricket.
“We will play whichever 11 is selected.”
But Strauss urged everyone involved in world cricket to remain ‘vigilant’ in the fight against corruption, adding he was unable to say the whole game was entirely ‘clean’.
“I think there’s more awareness about it, which I think is a good thing. There have been some consequences to what went on at Lord’s. But it’s a hard thing to eradicate completely, policing it is very, very tough and I think there’s a huge responsibility on the administrators.”
England-Pakistan series have produced several flashpoints down the years, be they rows about umpires or allegations of ball-tampering, which led to Pakistan’s unprecedented forfeit of a Test match at The Oval in 2006. But Strauss insisted there was no reason why England-Pakistan matches should inevitably generate controversy.
“This perception that there are always issues, we should see this as an opportunity to eradicate that. There’s no reason why that should be the case. If we approach it in the right spirit then that should be good for relations between the two teams and world cricket in general.
“What’s happened before is water under the bridge and I hope both sides can play in the right spirit and produce an entertaining and exciting Test series.”
Published in The Express Tribune, January 3rd, 2012.
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Strauss is a very mature cricketer and a gentleman. I wish him and England team all the best. Being a Paksitan fan, I obviously want them to win, but England are certain favorites to win the test series. ODIs/T20s are anybody's game. Let's hope we see good quality cricket/
Mr Strauss can forget the scandals related to pak cricket .' But the Pakistan cricket team can not forget it. The aim must be based on supremacy in the Game. And that is the way to recover from the humiliation of scandals.