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Cricket in a fix! |
Cricket will never remain the same. For a fan who has been watching this sport grow from being India's obsession in the 1980s to being a sub-continent phenomena, the recent spot-fixing saga comes as a blow that has left the very game in shambles.
Unlike many fans who come and watch this sport from the stands, I have had the privilege to report on games but was untouched by the murky world of fixing that has infested this very great game.
I must admit that there was a spark in Mohammed Amir's run-up to the crease and Mohammad Asif's beauty that pitches outside the off-stump and kisses the citadel that has sent many back to the pavilions in their short yet promising careers. However, the last few days of so news have literally 'broken' the hearts those who follow the game religiously, not to mention the shock and utter disgust in the face of the custodians of the game.
While there are allegations from Veena Malik, Dheeraj Dikshit grabbing unnecessary headlines and eyeballs in the media, the immediate job at hand will be to bring to book the guilty. Even as I write this piece, Rehman Malik, Pakistan's interior minister has already made an audacious statement, lashing out at the media for crucifying the accused.
The murky world of fixing came to the fore when former SA skipper Hansie Cronje was banned for life and stars such as Mohammad Azharuddin too faced ban. BUT, what helped the Indian team was the presence of stars such as Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly took the image of the game to a new level by not just their performance on the field in the last one decade but swore by integrity, a case-study for our good old neighbour in handling the team post a traumatic scenario. Pakistan found Salim Malik, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis as accused in the match-fixing episode but only Malik was banned and he smartly got away with it in 2008, via a Supreme Court hearing.
On more occasions than one, Pakistan has let off those found guilty with minor punishments and even the life bans on their players have been revoked. What makes the tapes issued by New Of the World damning has been the players being found with a bookie on tape, something that needs no further debate and discussions on talk shows.
The step ahead???
Well, like they do in soccer, ban the country for a specified time. It is definitely a harsh judgement, no doubt, but the action will have to be taken now by the custodians of the game - ICC which have a golden chance to clean the mukh that has collected on the field today or else will we see Pakistan getting away yet again?
Written By: Prasad Posted on: 01-09-2010
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Sr. Sports sub-editor for Deccan Chronicle, Hyderabad.Have penned a book titled "Raising the bat", released in 2008 by former Indian skipper Nari Contractor. Also owns a website www.cricforu.com
10 comments
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Prasad
01-09-2010more than anything else, i am pained at the audacity of the individuals accused in this case to not have any remorse whatsoever. its such a waste of talent. whats the use of talent if you dont have the integrity in place.
Praveen
01-09-2010i completly agree with the suggestion given by u prasad in the end.time has come to take some bold steps against fixing.
