England vs Pakistan, 4th Test, The Oval 2006

OK, so “OvalGate” sounds more like a bedtime drink than it does a major international scandal, but I got sick of typing “the continuing cricketing chaos following the forfeiture of the Oval Test” or some other longwinded description, so from now on “the escalating drama surrounding Pakistani cricket” is now referred to by me as OvalGate.

The decision to postpone Inzy’s hearing is permeated by an aroma of dollar bills clenched in sweaty hands. If Ranjan Madugalle actually does have an illness in the family (that is so critical he can’t travel) then I’ll humbly climb down from this particular soapbox, but I genuinely doubt it. There’s too much revenue at stake for the hearing to happen on Friday.

Despite Bob Woolmer shining a torch on a path out of this mess, the ICC must still clearly feel that the ODI series could be a casualty of the hearing and hence the real reason for the delay. That does not bode well for Inzy and neither does it do much for my (limited) expectations of a hearing that does not already have a predetermined outcome. The best lawyer in the world may not be able to save Inzy’s arse from a fait a compli.

The ICC will also be very well aware that time is a phenomenal healer and putting some distance between now and the eventual hearing will soften the blow of any contentious findings that may arise. The burning effigies of Darrell Hair will have smoldered away by the time the hearing comes round just like the burning Chappells of not so very long ago. (Darrell Hairs effigies will burn a little longer though as his sizeable frame requires more bedsheets to properly emulate)

The one day series will not complete until the 10th September and if a week is a long time in politics, then two and a half weeks will be long enough in cricket for us to start wondering what the hell the fuss was about and that, of course, is the intent of the playmakers behind the delay.