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Pakistan seems to be the country that is making headlines currently for all the wrong reasons. Surely there are lots of other factors that are happening around us in the rest of the world that warrants more attention! But the talk of all and sundry is the latest on-the-spot fixing scandal and Pakistan and its cricket seem to be right in it at the moment! Firstly it was the devastating floods that left millions homeless and destitute.
James Anderson of England (L) apologises to Pakistan's Shahid Afridi (C) during the fourth One Day International cricket match between England and Pakistan at Lords Cricket Ground in London, England. AFP |
Then the terrorist bombs has been another reason for more people to take notice of Pakistan and the third unfortunate incident has been of course the spot-fixing scandal which has rocked its cricket!
Hardly the type of news you want to wake up to in the morning if you are a Pakistani citizen or a supporter of that nation. It has been devastating to the country and the people to a great extent, and the recovery seems to be a long and a very arduous one! On the floods front it is a long drawn out process with billions of dollars needed to get the economy back on rail whilst the terrorist issue seem to be a problem that doesn’t appear to have a clear answer.
But then what about the cricket issue? After a good performance in the T 20 series, the Test matches caused them great disgrace and the close tussle in the ODI’s would have given the embattled team some saving grace all though allegations in the third game could cloud that part of the tour as well! Despite the outcome of the entire stage which could end up either way depending on how true the allegations are the stigmas that have been created in Pakistan cricket will be very difficult to erase for a very long time which has prompted critics from around the world to call for life bans on players. Even though this rather late discovery and in spite of the anti corruption officials and a unit in place the betting on cricket with the help of certain cricketers was always on and betting on wides and no balls and even maiden overs was more or less common knowledge though a clear pointing of finger was not done!
And in that scenario for three cricketers from Pakistan to be accused of spot fixing is about the most unfortunate incident that could have happened to cricket in that country possibly after the attack on the Sri Lanka cricket team in Lahore.
Though it could also serve as the catalyst to rid this menace of fixing and betting from the game for good! We do know that former Pakistan Captain Salim Malik along with a few greats from other nations was disgraced being found guilty of match fixing along with a small number of former greats from Pakistan and India were given light punishments after inquiries in to the matter found them at fault. Subsequent to such an incident when match fixing was considered the demon of the cricket world, you wouldn’t expect players to come out boldly and fearlessly and carry on regardless doing what they were found doing and that is to be involved in spot fixing! I mean if it is proved beyond doubt!
Looking at the three cricketers, in truth it doesn’t appear that, they were really ignorant of it. Whilst there may be a few thoughts spared for young Mohammed Amir, I think by and large it is an offence which deserves a very strong reaction! When one considers that the captain Salman Butt too was a part of the whole episode, it can’t be denied that the entire occurrence had strong backing from people who mattered. As for Mohammed Asif he had been found guilty on drugs before and was out of the team for some time and for him to be tempted back in to such action may not take too much of an effort and is no surprising either.
But the question is how do we move forward? Let’s not forget that cricketers today are role models and icons followed very closely by young kids who surely don’t deserve the wrong example. At a time when the film and the television world appear to have the wrong idea in presenting their product, which is packed with violence and possibly every immoral act imaginable along with a message that doesn’t keep to the accepted norms of the society, sport which can be considered a breath of fresh air, cannot be allowed to be polluted at all! Hence people who are at the helms of things such as the ICC should look at this very seriously and make the job of an anti corruption officer over looking a series more meaningful than the paid holiday they enjoy currently which includes living in good hotels and enjoying excellent hospitality only!
In the face of all these developments, I am not willing to agree that Pakistan should be banned from cricket fully as some are suggesting. I am sure there may be such fixing in many more games involving some of the other world cricketers and in other sports too though the finger hasn’t been pointed or proper evidence hasn’t been unearthed, though I feel it could be only a matter of time before it is in the open for all to see.
But surely dealing with the respective individuals if found guilty should be done very harshly to discourage others joining the band wagon or otherwise cricket will definitely loose its credibility. People will not accept results good or bad wins or losses as how would one know the genuineness of a game after all. With the spot fixing that has unfolded I am sure every no ball and wide and whatever other action on the field of play is bound to be scrutinized by not just the officials but every fan too which is a very damaging development! In short players will lose their respect and will be always viewed suspiciously causing the real gentleman in the game to be driven in to obscurity! This will in the end kill the sport gradually causing it a natural death and that is not good news. Cricket is about players and when there are no players or players of quality and integrity there will be no cricket. The current trend is definitely pointing in that direction.
* Roshan Abeysinghe is a leading cricket promoter and an international cricket commentator |
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