Now I have to make an admission first, given there is still no concrete evidence what so ever of match fixing having anything to do with the murder of Bob Woolmer, I find the constant speculation in this regard increasingly annoying.

In fact I find the whole debate on match fixing annoying. It is not an aspect of our game I like to discuss. But given so many people have been voicing their opinions in this regard off late, and they really are, nothing but personal opinions, here I am blogging about it.

You expect people like Rashid Latif and Sarafaraz Nawaz to be making the noise, as Moin Khan said in response, Sarafaraz probably thinks every match is fixed. So I’m not sure we should take him too seriously, but off late the list of people with doubts and suspicious has seen an increase.

Michael Vaughan joined in by saying his gut feeling was that some corruption in the game still exists, Shehreyar Khan, the ex PCB chief, has now added that he thinks spot fixing (which involves, in case you didn’t know, fixing minor aspects of game, such as the number of extras bowled, as opposed to the entire result of a game it self) still happens and that it is something you can’t really prevent.

In between, SA’s manager has come out and admitted one of their players was approached by bookies on the country’s tour to India two years ago (to which you really have to ask why he is making this public now, where was he two years ago?).

And now people like Lord MacLaurin, the former chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board, during whose tenure the first through investigation into match fixing took place, have joined in the chorus.

The ICC and the police in Jamaica investigating into Bob’s murder, have also, as a result stepped in and hinted they have expanded the scope of their investigations in this area. And of course, since it is their job to find the man(or men) responsible for Bob’s murder, they ought to thoroughly investigate all the suspicions anyone has raised, but you would really hope, that in such a sensitive time for the game, people would do more then just come up with their ‘opinions’ on whether or not corruption exists.

Its not that I like to live in oblivion about the realities cricket is facing, but murder investigations aren’t solved based on what people’s opinions are. Next time Michael Vaughan is asked for his opinion on match fixing, I’d be much more pleased if he kept his mouth shut.

We’re so not interested in knowing his mere ‘opinions’. If he has facts, if he knows anyone who is involved, any information at all that might actually be helpful, sure, go ahead, don’t just talk to The Sun about it, might as well call a live global press conference.

But spare us of your opinions please Virgil, how about getting some runs for a change, you haven’t done that for a long, long time. Ditto for Shehreyar Khan, Sarfaraz Nawaz and Rashid Latif. I’ve already had enough of people trying to be the self-righteous upholders of the spirit of the game.

Anyone remembers Marcus Trescothick? Yeah, that Marucs. The 'stress' related illness that forced him out of the Ashes was a real shame. I've always liked Marcus as a player, because he's one of those players with not a lot of foot movement, but a lot of good balance and excellent hand-eye-coordination. And unlike a lot of English Cricketers, he doesn't brag incessantly. Anyway, a lot of people think his international career is over, but you never know with the England selectors. Latest is that he's just been released from hospital after a double hernia operation, and should be back opening the innings for his County Somerset with Justin Langer in about 4-6 weeks. Tresco is on an ECB central contract until the end of September. The BBC have more on his recovery trail.

Both The Nation and The Daily Times have carried an interesting story today about a law student cum political worker from Dera Ismail Khan by the name Wasim Rehan. This guy has apparently filed a petition before the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhary, against the appointment of Nasim Ashraf as chairman of the PCB. He demands that the PCB abolish ad-hocism and hold elections immediately. The Supreme Court in response to his petition has duly issued notices to the PCB and the Ministry of Sports and a hearing will in insue in the first week of April.

Rehan Waseem, had filed the petition under Article 184(3) of the Constitution. But earlier the SC’s registrar office had returned the petition down by filing an objection of locus standi (eligibility) of the petitioner. But Rehman didn't give up, he challenged the decision of the registrar before the Chief Justice with the contention that it was "a matter of public importance and national prestige and every citizen of Pakistan reserved the right to challenge the affairs of the PCB, which were detrimental for the national cricket team". Hmmm....

Whats more, he also briefed the chief justice on the doping scandal of Shoaib and Asif. You can't help but admire this guy's passion for the game, though you have to be skeptical of how much his efforts might yield, given you-know-who is the all conquering 'Patron-in-chief' of the PCB. And Ashraf lets not forget was duly brought in precisely and only because he was in Mushy's good books. And given all that Mushy has done to restore the constitution of this country, and how powerless the Supreme Court has been to stop him, its expecting elephants to fly to hope such petitions will result in Ashraf getting the sack, let alone the PCB constitution being restored.

Whilst I'd certainly like to ask Rehan how he managed to squeeze out time from his law studies and political career for an effort like this, you have to give credit to him nevertheless. A lot of us here in Pakistan find it more convenient just to sit back and criticise from the comfort out of arm chairs, not doing much to actually change these things, but at least this guy is trying and he's gone through all the legal system to file a legal complain against them, which is completely his right as he implied too. Lets see what the PCB have to say for themselves when the hearings get underway. I expect more rhetoric just for the record.

Ah, its such a joy when a life-long dream finally comes true. Finally, after 20 years of mostly meaningless existence, I have graduated. Be it an Honorary Bachelor of Optimism from the University of the Blogging, but it all still counts. Such joy. 

One of the characteristics of Woolmer's reign as Pakistan Coach is how despite the losses the team has suffered under him, the Pakistan Cricket Board, has somehow, so far, resisted the temptation to take the horses for courses reactions it is famous of taking. Time now though, appears to be running out.

This was a liberty, other Pakistan coaches, particularly those coming from within the country, did not enjoy. Woolmer's own predecessor and one of his most vehement critics, Javed Miandad him self, for instance was sacked immediately after the team lost both the one-day and test series against India in their breakthrough tour to Pakistan in 2004.

When Woolmer first came in, there was some amount of skepticism in the Pakistani press and amongst ex players about the possible effects he would have, but Pakistan fans, generally, it seemed back then, at least from some of the scores of emails that come to his website, were willing to give him a chance before writing him off. It was a very promising start.

As time has passed on though, people's patience has been running out fast. The 'foreigner', 'over-paid', 'lap-top coach' tag is now brought out more then ever, and it seems inevitable, that following the World Cup, the PCB may not renew his contract.

Barring one or two things, like Woolmer's fondness for all-rounders that aren't quite up to it, and his and Inzi's 'safety first' approach, I have a lot of respect for Woolmer as a coach, and often, I can’t help but feel sympathy for him for how he's been treated by our ex-players and sections of the national press.

Effigies are burned, protests done whenever we lose, pretty much every thing is blamed on the coach, what should be confidential details of his contract and earnings, are lashed on and commented by all and sundry. Yet when we win, hardly ever do you see any credit coming his way.

Consider this report for instance, it documents information from Talat Ali's managerial report on the ill-fated tour of SA, which confirms the altercation between Woolmer and Shoaib on Day 2 of the 2nd test, but denies Woolmer having racially abused Shoaib Akhtar.

Woolmer's own tour report, the report says, has also discussed the Shoaib incident in depth and categorically denied he abused Shoaib Akhtar in a racial way. The newspapers' own sources have also added that Saleem Altaf, director cricket operations of the PCB, had a verbal confrontation with Woolmer during one of the team meetings, where he reportedly told Woolmer that he "had worked no wonders for the team".

The same source has also speculated that Naseem Ashraf has denied a request by Woolmer to install the Hack Eye software package for the team, despite Woolmer having presented an extensive presentation on it highlighting the possible benefits it could bring to the team. The reason it says, was that, the CEO, was unhappy the coach didn't make a case for it earlier and also since it was costing around £30,000 per year.

Without wanting to comment on the specifics, it is getting more an more obvious since Waqar Younus was sacked from his position of bowling coach, and Grant Compton, the trainer for the PCB academy and national side, resigned, that the board's relationship with Woolmer too is now deteriorating and if we don't do well in the World Cup, neither the PCB nor Woolmer him self, might want to continue the partnership any further.

Different people have different takes on what Woolmer has brought to Pakistan Cricket, some people simply refuse to seeing anything beyond his salary and technology oriented methods, always pointing out the fact that he isn't Pakistani, but such criticism often reflects underlying prejudices in some of Pakistan's ex-test great, and I try and distance my self from sounding like them.

For me personally, if Woolmer goes after the World Cup, and we haven't God forbid, done that well in it either, the biggest disappointment will not be that individual results for the team away from him or separate sections of the side, such as the opening or the fielding, did not show as much improvement as one would have hoped, but the fact that over all Pakistan Cricket and Woolmer him self, both collectively did not benefited from each other as much as they could have.

Talent never has been an issue in Pakistan Cricket, but it is the professionalism that has always eluded us. When we hired Woolmer I had a handful of expectations in this regard from both Woolmer him self, the PCB board that hired him, and our own fans and press that would constantly judge him over time.

For Woolmer, I hoped that he would be able to bring here in Pakistan some if not all of that ruthlessness and professionalism that were the hallmark of his previous highly successful coaching stints with Worcestershire County Cricket Club and South Africa.

For the PCB, I hoped that they'd give Woolmer the time and resources he'd need for this monumental task, and for ourselves, the on-looker and followers of the game in this country, I hoped, that we would learn not to judge Woolmer on his nationality or salary but on what he brought to cricket in this country.

Alas, it seems all three of us, have failed at our own individual levels, and the biggest loser of course, has sadly been, Pakistan Cricket it self.

Impak is a private, non-profit organization that seeks to bring positive change by connecting individuals abroad to Pakistan through meaningful work and volunteer opportunities. They mailed in to tell me about their Quake Relief Summer Programme, aka QRSP. This is noble work, and needs volunteers. To find out how you can help, go to their website.

Hello, hello! I expect everyone's recovering from their celebration hang overs, me? Mine are still under way. The authorities have organised a special fireworks night today, just near by where I live, overlooking this magnificent fountain we have here. It's supposedly the tallest in the world, I might hop over to have a closer look as I've never been there, and if I take any pictures, and they come out half decent, I might post them.

In the news, everyone's talking about Asif. His popularity has obviously sky rocketed overnight, my phone was quite busy yesterday, with numerous SMS received and send, and no one was left unimpressed. Even the cricket-ignorant girls at my college where talking about Aaaasssiiifff (that's how they pretend to have a 'coooollll accceeennntt').

Let's not go into what they were discussing specifically, but this just gives you an idea of what a match winning performance against India does to your profile. Expect him to be in an advertisement before you know it. And if this sustains, an episode at Aik Din Geo Ke Sath (A Day with Geo, the tv show that spends a day with local celebs) might not be far away either.

Our win was obviously all over the front and back pages too, big, flashy headlines, and even colorful pictures everywhere. I’ll do a full media round my self shortly (Cricinfo's version via The Surfer here), in the meanwhile, have a look at this from the BBC, it’s a report about Simon Jones.

You have to feel he won’t be any short of good ribbing from his team mates now, especially since I also happen to recall having read in this other BBC report from a while back, that highlighted some of his tendencies.

In pictures: Cricket: All you need to know about England
	SIMON JONES   The fast bowler recently posed nude for Cosmopolitan magazine and is very image conscious and looks after his skin with daily cleansing lotions, facial scrubs and moisturiser. He was born on Christmas Day and has a twin brother called Matthew - "a shocker of a Christmas present for my mum!". Says he loves ironing too.

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Creeps! I know Mark Waugh was image conscious, he certainly admits that in his book but cleansing lotions, facial scrubs and moisturisers and that too on a daily basis?!?! Sorry, but I’m going to have to call you Mr. Universe, and nothing but Mr.Universe from now on.

And yeah, I know it’s really abnormal that I should be talking about anything other then our utterly, fab, fab win yesterday, but I couldn’t help but put a link through to this team bonding session the England team is having before their trip to India. Hmm…

I'm a bit late on this, but better late then never they say.

New Zealand and Sri Lanka's form slump has allowed Pakistan to move up to 3rd place in the latest released version of the official LG ICC ODI Championship rankings. SA meanwhile thanks to their good run - 19 games without defeat including 12 wins in a row -have propelled to 2nd place and Australia are consequently just 4 points ahead at number 1.

Full rankings here

PS: Thanks to Ash for the reminder

Thanks to Asad Mamoo for this who send this to me by e-mail. And the following is from a Ganguly Non-appreciation Society :