Spot Fixing Scandal Rocks Cricket Hard on Evidence

by Sreelata S. Yellamrazu

         Three seemingly innocuous no-balls. That is all it took to knock cricket off its chair. The spot fixing scandal in England has touched a raw nerve, particularly with the ghost of Cronje-gate not put to rest properly. But it has gone a step further by producing damaging evidence that either only a mastermind with vested interests could conjure up or an ingenuous devil looking to rob the game in broad daylight.

        It almost always takes a show off to reveal some of the most devious crimes in history. The case could not be very different as bookmarker-masquerading-as-player agent, Mazhar Majeed, revealed step-by-step details of how the Pakistan cricketers were hoodwinking the cricket loving public at large. The only reason he was talking was the hefty wad of notes being laid out on the table and the lure of more, showing how he had only to press a few delicate but decisive buttons. What he did not know was that while the world looked on stunned by what was being shown, his counting days could well be behind him.

        The “could” word has deliberately been used because as in the past, there is the initial shock, followed by denial which precedes cover up. While Scotland Yard tries to unearth the links of evidence behind the hunches and clues they have followed up on ever since Pakistan landed in England, there seems also to be a strange scenario where the International Cricket Council does not want to overtly intervene, the England and Wales Cricket  Board are looking to move on and haplessly so with millions still at stake from the ODI series, and the Pakistan Cricket Board and indeed, the Pakistan government, are hoping against hope that somehow it is proved that the evidence that has been running relentlessly on television networks around the world has been doctored to indict Pakistan.

            What makes this particular match fixing scandal, coming as it does ten years after the first one that rocked the cricket world, so devastating is in the fact that it comes from the team that was expected to repose the faith accorded by a foreign nation and board and particularly at a time when their nation has been brought to its knees by a combination of controversies that have dogged their political administration, the instability within the country that has starved the nation of cricket on its own territory, and ravaged by the fury of nature by way of floods, believed to be the worst ever in Pakistan’s history. Cricket then was expected to be the vehicle by which to draw attention to the plight in Pakistan and raise awareness as well as much needed funds. Those noble ideas were reiterated by the Pakistan cricketers before the chaos blew up in their face.

         There are a lot of issues involved presently, including not only passing a judgment on the tainted cricketers but also, understanding the motivations behind something of this nature recurring. There has to be sensitivity involved because this is a promising, highly talented, young Pakistan team that was expected to build up hope and vibrancy. If matters are indeed proved to be graver than expected and that the malaise has permeated through the dressing room, harsh punishments would have to be complemented by a re-education for the flag bearers for the future of the game. There is also a need to be absolutely apolitical because playing up his whole “not in our DNA” angle can have some rather undesirable consequences. On many levels, this spot fixing is only touching the tip of the iceberg including the degree of deviousness, the nature of people involved, and how deep rooted it is to be promulgated and entrenched in the manner it has been. It has also exposed the ICC and the ICC’s Anti Corruption and Security Unit in a poor light, which, if the inadvertent purpose of this misadventure is served, they will either clean up their act or replaced eventually by a governing body with more self assured powers, though the latter is farfetched imagination.

          While Pakistan’s administrators are said to be towing the line of innocent until proven guilty, it seems highly unlikely that the perpetrators of arguably the worst crime in cricket’s history would have an escape route this time should it be proved beyond the infinitesimal degree of doubt. Initial shock, rage and disappointment have given way to expressing appallingly once more the sedate manner in which sensitive matters are being handled. With millions riding on this tour, the England and Wales Cricket board is putting aside the sense of betrayal about the MCC hosting the Spirit of Cricket Test series between Australia and Pakistan in England and turning a hard ear on the England cricketers, who despite completing the mandatory procedure on the fourth day of the fourth Test at Lord’s to win the series, still find themselves  in a suspended state of belief.

        The International Cricket Council, who should ideally override the paralyzed Pakistan Cricket Board and at least force suspension on those accused before a proper investigation at the highest level can pass a verdict, are surprisingly making spectacular statements that would have been appreciated if they were followed up by some sort of action. Instead there seems to be cloak and dagger business going on at a time when perhaps it was time cricket came clean, once and for all. Rest assured, we have not seen the end of it yet.