? Captain determined not to make an issue of spot-fixing
? 'We all recognise it's time to move on'
Andrew Strauss launched a determined effort by his England team not to make an issue of corruption ahead of Monday's flight to the Middle East to face Pakistan for the first time since the spot-fixing scandal of 2010.
"We all recognise it's time to move on," said Strauss, refusing to dwell on the surprise and potentially provocative inclusion in the Pakistan squad of Wahab Riaz and Umar Akmal, who were both named in the trial that led to custodial sentences for Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir. Riaz and Akmal have strenuously denied the allegations made in court and maintain they are innocent of any involvement in corruption.
"It's their obligation and duty to pick the best side available to them. The spot-fixing stuff is something we're desperately keen to move on from. I don't think there's any good that can come from churning it all up again. It's time to just concentrate on the cricket. We'll play whichever XI are selected."
Riaz, a left-arm seam bowler who had a stint with Kent last summer, had been omitted from Pakistan's recent series against Sri Lanka, and officials have confirmed that they sought clearance from the International Cricket Council before recalling him for the three-Test series against England that starts in Dubai on 17 January.
The spot-fixing scandal in 2010 ensured the latest in a long list of acrimonious series between England and Pakistan, but Strauss hopes to avoid off-field controversies this time around.
"What's happened before as far as I'm concerned is water under the bridge and I hope both sides can really go and play the game in the right spirit and produce an exciting and entertaining Test series," he added.
"We should see this as an opportunity to erode or eradicate that perception that there's always been issues between England and Pakistan. There's no reason why that should be the case. If we both approach it in the right spirit that should be good not just for the series but for cricket in general.
"I think if anyone's got the idea it's not going to be a competitive series that's well off the mark. But hopefully for the right reasons. I'm certainly excited about going there and playing in fairly alien conditions against some good cricketers. That's plenty for us to worry about without any other off the field stuff."
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/jan/02/andrew-strauss-england-pakistan
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