This is what the readers had to say...
Name: Saradhi
Comment: It is well known to all that Pakistanis use to do such type of things frequently and the suspension of two matches is not suffecient. That is not the remedy; it should be made much harder so that in future players should be scared of things like deduction of match fees etc, creating a financial loss to player as well suspension.
Name: Barry
Comment: I don't think so it's enough. They should be banned from playing cricket. Two-match suspension is always less cause they will earn back the money by playing more matches. Further 2 matches is nothing for them. So I think that Shoaib Akhtar shuld be banned from playing cricket. If anybody practices the same thing, the same punishment shuld be given.
Name: Deepak K Harathi
Comment: Two-match suspension, for that matter match suspension, does not serve the purpose. Time and again we are seeing the same mistake by players who are considered to be top among others. Unless the attitude of the players change, this will continue regardless of the punishment. It's really hard to believe that such players are considered to be world class. Shame on them. May not be a very big offence considering the match-fixing scandal, but cricketers should have some ethics while on the field and not to forget that they are role models to many in this cricket crazy world. First they should be reprimanded and if they commit the same offence, they should be banned from playing cricket because thats not the way to play cricket, especially when you are representing your country. Chucking is altogether a diferent issue. People may seem to get away with that stating physical abnormalities. But an excuse on ball tampering should not be entertained. Its high time players behave with some responsibility and put the game of cricket and their country in front of all.
Name: Srinivasan
Comment: Shoaib Akthar was found guilty of ball tampering in November 2002. Within 6 months i.e in May 2003, he has been once again found to be guilty of ball tampering. The punishment of two matches ban given to him is grossly inadequate. Since he has repeated the crime within 6 months, he needs to be banned for atleast a year. Such cheats should not be spared. Cricket is gentleman's game and it has to be played in a fair manner. ICC has to review its policy on ball tampering and chucking besides sledging.
Name: Jeu George
Comment: I think a 2-match punishment should be sufficient for a first offence. But for subsequent offences, the punishment should be a lot harsher. For repeatedly doing it without any respect for the laws of the game, the player shoudl be banned for life without any regards to the player, his talents or his achievements. If you want to play cricket play it the right way.
Name: Shaam
Comment: I believe it's a mare stupidity. The tracks in Sri Lanka has been the paradise for the bowlers, where the ball is seaming, swinging and bouncing. Its a hell for the batsmen. All you have to do is put the ball in the right spot. Only an idiot would tamper the ball under these conditions. Pakistan Cricket have had enough of Shoaib, and are better off without him for the discipline and team sprit. What kind of message Shoaib is giving to the upcoming yound fast bowlers. It's time to move on and invest in other young fast bowlers. Enough of this out of hand craziness of Shoaib.
Name: Venky
Comment: 2 match ban is definitely not enough. That too for bowler who is as good and as famous as Shoaib. Players like these will keep on repeating the same mistakes b'coz they they can get away with it, and also b'coz they are very rich . Why is that always contreversies comes from this country only. They need to learn a lot about discipline from their neighbours.
Name: Ravi Chandra
Comment: I think ICC has not been stringent enough in enforcing strong rules against felony acts such as Ball tampering. This is certainly not a crack at shoaib, who I firmly believe got away paying a very cheap price for the crime committied. IT is time ICC suspends players for a series or so for ball tampering.
Name: ABCD
Comment: I believe that Shoaib Akhtar should of been suspended for the maximum penalty of 8 matches. Why? He was caught less than a year ago tampering with the ball, and then he was seen not once but twice tampering with the ball. Surely the ICC wants to stamp this kind of behaviour. By handing out stricter punishments for ball tampering they will show the cricketing world that they do indeed have some backbone, instead of the toothless tiger they are currently portrayed as.
Name: Sakib
Comment: Any unfair advantage, be it ball tampering or showing emotions to take undue advantage or preparing "doctored" pitches need to be condemned. Only when it is the South Asians, that the world takes notice of such "irregularities", what about the recent Mcgrath incident which was termed as a way of life for any Australian, and what about the pitches in New Zealand. And how about if Pakistanis do it in early 90s it is illegal and the whole world does it a few years later it is pefectly OK and the done thing.
Name: Naresh Barot
Comment: As my opinion two-match ban punishment is not enough for Shoaib Akhtar. Because in the same matter he has been reported second time in very short period. In international game if this type of mistake should not be accepted and very strick punishment should be given.Definitely it can be said that this match won by Pakistan only because of ball tampering by Shoaib. So this match should be treated as no-result or as a cancelled. If whole team will face the bad result of this type problem created by any player of that team. Then only the team management will be taken it seriously and will form their own rules for their players to avoid this. It will help to stop the unfair practice in the game.
Name: Dilip Samant
Comment: It's a joke! In this particular ( Akhtar ) case the result of the match also should had been nullified as it was a decider for the final listings and obviously Pakistan have won unfairly.
Name: Lewin Fernandes
Comment: We seem to always talk about ball tampering but I feel that most bowlers must be tampering with the ball. It is those unfortunate few that get caught on TV that are punished. I wonder why cameras focus correctly on Asian bowlers doing some work on the bowl. I would like to see the cameras following the Aussies and the English bowlers as well with pinpoint accuracy to see if they only worship the ball and not put any work on it. I am sure that even the great McGrath must be tampering with the seam when he doesn't get a wicket and even then if he doesn't succeed the Aussies resort to finger pointing exercises. The subcontinent bowlers using the art of reverse swing should not be confused with ball tampering; because the grounds in Asia are such that the ball gets roughed up pretty quickly and starts misbehaving provide the bowler knows how to make it misbehave by using the art of reverse swing.
Name: Vivek
Comment: Looking at the instances of the Ball Tampering it is quite obvious that the Ball Tampering is here to stay, moreover if the punishment is as good as some % of the fees for one-two match suspension then using this technique in important matches is certainly worth all the (ill)effort. I have started feeling sorry that we did not use such technique during the world cup finals to stop the rampaging Ponting and his team, afterall only 1 team member would have been penalized by some thousands of $s. Learn India Learn.
Name: Rajdeep
Comment: No, I think in any game the player should be fair enough to make the game clean and clear. As cricket is known as Game of Gentleman,So no cricketer should allow to tempered with the ball. According to me ICC should make a law that who ever cought doing this act in field should be ban for 10 to 15 match for the first time and if the player do this second time then he should be expel from the game of cricket for whole life.
Name: Ajay Kaushik
Comment: As everybody knows that "Shoaib" has been reported second time in less than ayear and Pakis players have the bad reputation of tempering the ball,my recommendation to ICC, is that the body should be strict against such players from any country to make the sport clean from dirty thoughts. The game will be more competitive and respectful.The two match ban is not enough for such a deed and the player found guilty of ball tempering should be given atleast one year suspension. ICC should also warn Pakistan Cricket Board as their players are found guily most of the time. Shoaib will be quiet pleased with the punishment.In my opinion,he should be given warning by ICC that this is the last time he hast got a reprieve and will be banned forever,if found guilty again. Thanks
Name: Rohit
Comment: Why does Shoaib always gets away with all his wrong doings.He escaped last year in Zimbabwawe and then the chucking saga.2 match suspension is not enough punishment and would set a precedence for other that they can get away cheaply with such a serious offence.I dont want to make Shoaib a scape goat but he should pay up for unfair practices that he had been getting away scot free till today. Dont know what Pakistan Cricket Board has in store for him.Is it goodbye "Rawalpindi Express"?
