Pakistani Trio Sentenced

Former Pakistan cricketers are today starting their sentencing behind bars after being found guilty of cheating in the form of match fixing, News of the World uncovered the corruption which layed deeply within Pakistani Cricket and helped bring justice to the trio.

Pakistan’s former captain Salman Butt and fellow players Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir have all been given custodial sentences for plotting to fix parts of Pakistan's Lord's and Oval Test matches against England in 2010.

Butt was jailed for 30 months, Asif was given a 12-month term and teenager Amir was handed a six-month sentence for plotting to bowl deliberate no-balls against England.

Mr Justice Cooke said the four men had damaged the image and integrity of the sport.

The judge told the court: "The image and integrity of what was once a game but is now a business is damaged in the eyes of all, including the many youngsters who regarded you as heroes and would have given their eye teeth to play at the levels and with the skills that you had."

He added: "Now whenever people look back on a surprising event in a game or a surprising result, or whenever in the future there are surprising events or results, followers of the game who have paid good money to watch it live or watch it on television will be left to wonder whether there has been fixing and whether what they have been watching is a genuine contest between bat and ball.

"What ought to be honest sporting competition may not be such at all."

That's the price you pay for cheating and it also sends out a clear message that match fixing will not be tolerated in Cricket.

Sick as a Drog

By Matt Scott 
Chelsea’s star striker Didier Drogba has been diagnosed as suffering from Malaria.

The 32-year-old was thought to have been suffering from a virus after missing games against Aston Villa and Spartak Moscow but blood tests have since revealed he has some how contracted malaria.

Drogba was a surprise inclusion in the squad that lost 2-0 to Liverpool at the weekend. He was named on the bench but came on for the second half, having little impact on the game.

Chelsea boss, Carlo Ancelotti, revealed that the Ivory Coast international was not in the starting XI because he complained of a fever during the eve of the game. The Italian tactician is unsure how Drogba managed to contracted it. He said, ‘We found out (on Monday night) when blood tests showed he had malaria. I don’t know where he got it from.’

Despite this, Drogba is in contention to start against Fulham tomorrow night at Stamford Bridge, no doubt hoping to add to his 6 league goals already this season.

CRICKET: Strauss warns England

England captain Andrew Strauss has warned his team not to underestimate Pakistan in the 1st test at Trent Bridge on Thursday, Strauss has vowed for his team to keep their eyes on the ball. Pakistan are coming off a great victory over Australia in a recent test match at Headingley and Salman Butt's men will be hoping for the same against England.

"It's a big challenge," Strauss told Sky Sports News.

"We saw against Australia that the Pakistan side is dangerous one full of talent. They are used to conditions so was don't have that to surprise them.

"We are going to have to be at our best to win it and that's a good thing for us, not only ahead of the Ashes, but generally because we want to play at our best and hopefully beat the best.

"In some ways it's a precursor because there's a lot of attention towards the Ashes and we can understand that.

"It's wrong to look at any series and look beyond it. All we can do is play well in the series, win the series and go from this series to Australia with a lot of confidence.

"To start looking at Australia at this stage is not helpful."

CRICKET: Muttiah Muralitharan reaches milestone

Sri Lankan spin-king cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan bowed of internation test cricket today, breaking the World Record of wickets taken. Muralitharan reached the milestone of 800 wickets. the 38 year old went into final day of his last test facing India, needing two wickets to reach the milestone.

Harbhajan Singh was first of the day of Muralitharan leaving the Sri Lankan on 799 wicked, but later Mahela Jayawardene had edged to slip sparking wild celebrations around the ground, with fireworks going off as Murali reached the 800 milestone of wicket-taking.

Take a look at Muralitharan 800th wicket.

CRICKET: Australia all out for 88

The Australian cricket team have collapsed on day one for the second test at Headingley against Pakistan.

Austrailia were all out for 88.

The Aussies won the toss and decided to bat first, a decision which could come back to haunt them to say the least.

After the problems the Pakistanis had previously, with Captain Shahid Afridi retiring the other day, perhaps the Australians thought they were in for an easy match. However, the Pakistani team today came out fighting, removing all the Aussies for 88. Ouch.

CRICKET: Strauss - Pietersen will come good

England cricket captain Andrew Strauss has said he has no concerns on Kevin Pietersen lack of form recently and his backing his talisman to bounce back against Pakistan in first test match which is due to start on Thursday 29th July at Trent Bridge. Pietersen has lacked runs recently for England, with his last successful spell being an unbeaten 111 against India in November 2008.

Andrew Strauss told Sky Sports News, "Kevin has just turned 30 but he has got a lot of cricket left in him," said Strauss. "He has had a tough time, there is no doubt about that.

"He has not scored as many runs as he has done in the past. But he is a high-quality cricketer and he will come back and play match-winning innings for us.

"He has had a bit of a break and that has been well received. A new addition to the family changes your priorities a bit and you need to get your life in order. I think he will come out and play really well against Pakistan.

"Kevin wants to be a great cricketer and he knows the way to do that is by scoring runs consistently and putting in match-winning performances and I have no worries that he will do that."