UAE cricket boss fears for the future of the game over claims

Dilwar Mani.

Dilawar Mani, the chief executive officer of the Emirates Cricket Board, has called the Pakistan "spot-fixing" allegations "disgusting" and said the scandal could have a major impact on the future of the sport. The UAE is scheduled to host Pakistan's next international series - involving one Twenty20, five one-day games and two Test matches - against South Africa from October 27, and Mani expects the ongoing investigations in England to determine the fate of that series.

"I am absolutely shocked," he said. "Quite honestly, I think it puts a cloud over all of Pakistan's future cricket with the actions that will probably have to be taken by the Pakistan Cricket Board, the England and Wales Cricket Board and the International Cricket Council. "If this is true, obviously, then it will have a very serious consequence on the future of the game in Pakistan. Indeed, it will have a major consequence on the future of the game of cricket, quite honestly."

Mani said if the allegations that some Pakistan bowlers deliberately bowled no-balls at predetermined times are proved to be true, the players involved should be banned for life. "Anything like this is totally unacceptable" he said. "It may be premature, but from the evidence that is being presented, it's looking very incriminating and very damning for these players. "I think it has to go beyond the players eventually - to how cricket is conducted and how it is played. To me this is disgusting."

He said the impact on cricket fans could be devastating. "I am deeply shocked and if this was to be true, I think I will be really disillusioned as a follower of cricket," he said. "All cricket fans will be highly disillusioned. "This is no longer a gentleman's game, is it?" [e-mail]