Flower says Pak match-fixing claims have soured England””s summer of success

By vani on September 9th, 2010 216 views

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London, Sept.9 (ANI): England cricket team coach Andy Flower has admitted that the “gloomy atmosphere” generated by the Pakistan spot-fixing allegations has undermined his side””s achievements.

He has also suggested that the England and Wales Cricket Board review its scheduling policy after the second T20 game in Cardiff drew a pitifully small crowd of around 5,000.

””””There””s inevitably a bit of a gloomy atmosphere at the moment – and with the sullying of cricket””s name and reputation, that””s understandable,” The Telegraph quoted Flower, as saying.

””””It””s a pity, because we are playing some outstanding cricket. We have won two games comfortably, and for the skills of the bowlers in particular to be overshadowed so completely is sad. It””s fair to say it was the same in the Test series too. There were some great performances, like Jonathan Trott and Stuart Broad””s (world record eighth-wicket) partnership and some others, but they have been overshadowed by controversy,” he added.

He also said: “To have two Twenty20 games at the same venue at this stage of the season might have been an error. It””s something the ECB might want to look at.”

Flower admits he is content to defer to his employers”” judgment should any fresh corruption allegations be made against Pakistan players during the forthcoming NatWest Series.

Flower also said that he was hoping the ECB would not have to consider trying to restrict or ban players using Twitter.

””””Ideally, we””d like to allow the players to use Twitter if they so choose. I don””t quite understand the attractions of Twitter myself, but if they want to do it we want to allow them to make decisions like adults. But if we are to give them that freedom they must act responsibly. If they cannot do so, we””ll be forced into restricting the way they use it – and we don””t want to do that,” he said. (ANI)

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