/ Paul Moon / 22 October 2008 / Leave a comment

Paul Moon rages against the avaricious ECB and reveals that Allen Stanford is "no cricket purist." Gee, do ya think so?

As Test match crowds dwindle outside England, and with Pakistan beset by security fears, Giles Clarke (chairman of the ECB) wants English cities with big ethnic populations to stage neutral Tests. He believes that Pakistan, for example, might get a better crowd in Leeds than in Karachi.

Stewart Regan (chief executive of Yorkshire) was positively salivating about the possibility of staging matches at Headlingley, citing the large Pakistani community who are mad about cricket. He is convinced he could fill the ground for a Test involving Pakistan.

Pakistan have not played any major Tests or ODI's this year and suffered the cancellation of last month's Champions Trophy after players' unions marshalled opposition on safety grounds. Last month Pakistan signed a £4.8m, three-year deal to play home ODIs and Twenty20 games at Dubai Sports City, where a 25,000 seating stadium is near completion.

The possibility of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh playing at venues such as Headingley, Old Trafford or Edgbaston has been mooted over recent seasons but I do not want to go down that road!

I am for innovation and the global effort to protect the elite status of Test cricket but when did we become the world cricket policeman?

If we were so concerned about the plight of certain cricket countries why didn't we help the deprived West Indians pre-Stanford? Their cricket had been going down the plughole for years!

To prove that there are moves afoot just to cash in, Surrey are exploring the possibility of staging a Twenty20 match in the Indian Premier League. What has that got to do with saving Test cricket?

I confess to being confused and bewildered about all of this. Where does it end? Does the ECB determine the parameters of staging matches or can counties broker their own deals? Can individuals like Frank Warren or Allen Stanford hire county grounds and put on a bash? Remember that Stanford is no purist in his appreciation of cricket, he has this American 'sell' thing buzzing around in his head.

There would be questions surrounding sponsorship of players. Why would Pakistani sponsors be happy to see their clients not playing in their dollar pool? How would they get a return on their investment?

Clarke has said it is in the interest of cricket. Is it? How can we be sure? How do we know this sterilisation will not fragment and destroy our lovely game? How do we know it is not a short-term licence to print dirty money? What about grounds like Taunton, will they get a slice of the action?. Is this speculative folly really part of Giles Clarke's job description? I am not sure that it is.

Test cricket has a diverse and wonderful nature, that sanctity must be protected! Of course I understand Pakistan's domestic problems and they must make a case for touring teams to return to that country. India has reassured Australia despite bombings in Delhi.

Some neutrals would like to see the removal of the home advantage factor claiming it would make for a more balanced series. I disagree, what it would do is remove all semblance of passion. There are those who would like the groundsman to prepare a wicket that he wanted instead of under the instruction of the home team captain. I would not want that either, it would undermine the tapestry of the game.

If Pakistan played India at Headingley who would the English fans support (I would support India)? I do believe the grounds would be full initially but this fantasy is not something I want to encourage. Say no to staging and let's hope the ICC step in, overrule our avaricious ECB and prohibit this absurd nonsense!

Meanwhile on the 29 October 2008 at Delhi we have a tense make or break game between the best two cricketing nations. Latest Betfair odds show: India [2.88] Australia [3.85] Draw [2.52]. Is it possible that India can go 2-0 up in the series?