Cricket Update: http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Irfan-Pathan-c1601 and his revelations – a time for reflection or simply media attention?
The spot-fixing scandal recently rocked the world of cricket, following allegations published in the British tabloid “News of the World” that some Pakistani cricketers took money from a bookie to bowl no-balls during the last test match between http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755
and England.
But, these allegations are now thought to be premeditated. In the face of various revelations by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mazhar-c75448 Majeed, the bookie who was duped into believing that an undercover journalist was in fact a client, Mazhar boasted his strong control on many Pakistani
players.
Spot-fixing and match-fixing have been part of the sporting history since as long as the ancient Olympics, where referees were bribed into influencing the results of a particular contest. It is a way to earn easy money which normally evades the watchful
eye of the various sporting agencies.
In the wake of all the spot fixing allegations that seem to have become media frenzy, many players have found the guts to now come forward and make revelations about their experience of being contacted by bookmakers, including several http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747 and Australian
cricket players.
Two Bangladesh players, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750, after which the BCB started planning orientation sessions to warn the players of the dangers of being approached by prospective bookies. Shane
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Watson-c96326 and Brad Haddin also were reportedly approached by an Illegal Indian bookmaker during the last 12 months. Watson, however, reported the separate meetings to the team management.
The question that why all the cricket players are now coming forward with their revelations still eludes the cricket fans, despite ICC’s recent claim that they had dealt with the threat of fixing and that it was now a thing of the past.
The latest revelation came by the Indian pace bowler, Irfan Pathan, who has been out of the Indian side for some time now, due to poor form. He claimed that he was sent “expensive” gifts by a stranger while he was staying at a hotel, but his sixth sense
informed him that he might be a bookie. Irfan was however, wary of this disclosure and didn’t release the exact date when the incident took place. Still, he did mention that valuable gifts were sent to his hotel room and he reported the incident to the Indian
team manager.
"I was in a team hotel when a stranger approached me. He sent three expensive gifts to my room. He later sent me two more expensive gifts, things I couldn't afford," said the 25-year-old, whose last Test appearance for India was in April 2008 against South
Africa. "I thought it was wrong as I didn't know this person. I reported to the team manager who then alerted an ICC Anti-Corruption and Security Unit Officer," he recalled.
Pathan insisted that he didn’t saw the stranger again and is proud to have done the right thing by promptly informing the concerned authorities. It is imperative to note that many have found this as an opportunity to cash in on media publicity with the ex-girlfriend
of Mohammad Asif, Veena Malik having been perfect with her accusations reportedly promised to provide evidence for Asif’s link with Indian bookmakers. The link of Asif with the Indian underworld is still unclear but rumors are rife that Asif dated a Tamil
actress, Neetu Chandra. The media publicity has landed the actress from Pakistan with a place in Big Boss 4.
Whether the stranger was simply a fan of Mr. Irfan Pathan or a lover or even an undercover journalist, we can never know for sure. However, many players are now coming forward with their experiences with the bookmakers. ICC should find this as the perfect
opportunity to incentivize these players if they provide useful information.
Meanwhile, Indian fans are also now apprehensive of the credibility of ICC following the election of Sharad Pawar as its Chairman, knowing quite well that the politician has had a poor track record blemished with corruption and charges of misappropriation
of state funds.
One Indian fan noted, “You are putting the fate of these Pakistani players in the hands of a master of corruption - our very own ICC Chief Sharad Pawar. God bless cricket. Don't blame the cricketers for spot or match fixing; when the leader of the ring has
a doctorate in gotala (Misappropriation of funds)”
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