Pakistani Cricketers Suspended, Wisconsin Golfer Surrenders Medal

Among the world's great sports, cricket and golf number among the more gentlemanly. In recent days, actions on three continents showed the worst and the best of sportsmanship. In the UK, officials suspended three members of the Pakistani cricket team after accusations that they acted on instructions from gambling syndicates in Asia to rig bets. Meanwhile in Wisconsin, a young golfer turned himself in for the sin of carrying one club too many during a tournament.

Beginning with the cricket scandal, authorities have alleged that Mohammad Amir, an 18-year-old bowling phenom, Salman Butt, the Pakistan captain, and Mohammad Asif, another bowler, acted on instructions from alleged match-fixer, Mazhar Majeed, as part of an alleged spot-fixing scam. The crime? Three no-balls were bowled in a single over, having no impact at all on Pakistan's dismal defeat in the Fourth Test at Lord's Cricket Ground against England. For those unfamiliar with cricket, a no-ball is any delivery of the ball to the batsman done contrary to the rules; this can include bowling with one's foot over the line, throwing the ball rather than bowling it stiff-armed, etc. The penalty is a run given to the batting team. It is rare in international cricket, and to see it happen thrice in a single over (an over is six balls bowled to the batsman) is rarer still.

In England, bookies won't take a bet on something so minute, but in Asia, gambling regulation is far more lax. A wager on three no-balls in an over, or how many players will wear sunglasses, or who will win the coin toss at the start of the match is possible. Since cricketers are rather badly paid compared to soccer stars or any pro athlete in the US, they are particularly susceptible to bribery. In the case of Mr. Amir, he is young, not especially well-educated, from a small village. In short, he's a rube who's been used, if indeed he's guilty. He's the sort gambling fixers love to get their hooks in. The investigation continues, but the Pakistani tour of England is tarnished at a time when Pakistan needs some good news.

While the cricketing world tries to come to grips with this scandal, young Zach Nash of Waterford, Wisconsin, proved that all is not lost in sports. On August 11, the 14-year-old shot a 77 at Dretzka Park winning the boys 13-14 age division at the Milwaukee County Parks Tour Invitational, a youth tournament run by the Wisconsin PGA Section. In the aftermath, he discovered that he had carried a friend's club in his bag along with his own 14 clubs. Rule 4-4 of golf says 14 clubs is the maximum. A two-stroke penalty is assessed for each hole played with extra clubs up to 4 strokes. Not taking those strokes on the course (because he didn't count his clubs) meant he signed an incorrect score card, and thus, he was disqualified. After a quick talk with his dad and uncle, he called the officials and turned himself in. If he had kept his mouth shut, no one really would have known. So why didn't he? "I couldn't live with myself if I did that," he said.

Mr. Nash is a freshman at Waterford Union High School in Wisconsin and plans to go out for the golf team. One hopes he makes captain before he graduates. He has true character. So shines a good deed in a weary world.

© Copyright 2010 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Ubuntu Linux.

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