Andrew Strauss Calls Match Fixing A 'Cancer'

Andrew Strauss has called the matching fixing allegations that currently surround the game of cricket as a 'cancer'.

England got their five international one day series against Pakistan underway in Durham today and yet another Pakistani player has been questioned by police.

Wahab Riaz has become the fourth player from Pakistan to be question about 'spot fixing' allegations that surfaced during England's test series with the side.

Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir are all absent from the one day series after being suspended by the International Cricket Council and Strauss has called for a crack down because these allegation do nothing but hurt the game of cricket.

Speaking to The Sun the England captain said: "Every one of these allegations hurts the game of cricket more.

"Every cricketer in the world has received a short, sharp slap in the face about where this game is at the moment and where it needs to go in the future.

"We must try to iron out these allegations because they are a cancer that can spread and devalue the game."

England faced Pakistan in a Twenty20 competition earlier this week in Cardiff where the home side thrashed the visitors in an almost empty stadium. And Strauss understands why people are staying away from matches but believes that the game with survive.

"If these things are proved then it will make me think whether games were strictly as I saw them. I can understand people being reluctant to pay to watch matches now.

"The allegations have overshadowed the cricket but we realise our responsibility as players is to get out on the pitch and play well. Despite these allegations, I maintain that cricket generally is a very clean sport.

"I don't worry for the future of the game of cricket. It has survived many controversies over the years."
 
And England have got their one day series off to a good start as they posted a target of 274 for Pakistan to chase.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw