Match fixed’ in Lahore, Asian Test goes for a six

Duleep Mendis, tournament director said: "There might be a change in the next edition of the tournament. We might introduce the points system in the second innings also." In fact, the Pakistani approach was spotted very early when Sikander Bakht commented before lunch on the second day: "Their intentions are clear. They don’t want to face India in the final." After a fog-hit first day, Sri Lanka has just one bonus point – five at that point to India’s 10 – and were a long way away from Dhaka. Then, in a one stunning pre-lunch session, the Pakistanis batted like they had to reach Dhaka before tea and, in the process, gave the Lankans four full bowling points. Obviously, the Pakistani batsmen seemed to have received specific instructions on how to go about it. Wajahatullah Wasti, the rookieopener, completed his century and then started playing as if he was there just for the kicks. Afridi’s dismissal was more dramatic as he jumped out to Kalpage off the first ball he faced and did his job quite well, so to say, by coming back for a duck. Wicket-keeper Moin Khan, who would normally give his right arm but not his wicket, then threw his bat around like a maniac to complete the first act of this farce. Six wickets fell for 192 runs and by the time everybody sat down for lunch, the script was quite clear.

Obviously, the next logical step was to give Sri Lanka three more points, this time in batting, to close the door on India. Pakistan kept their main bowlers out of the attack after having Lanka on the floor at 189 for four at the end of the second day. Akram, then, rubbed it in by returning to bowl, taking a hat-trick and packing off the Lankans in just 2.2 overs to make the Pakistani plan so obvious and bring the Asian Championships back to where it should have been for a much longer period:the planning room.