India v Pakistan: The impact of “Bookies” in Mohali
The ICC World Cup 2011 is a charismatic event which is reflective of the cricket fans going loony all around the globe in ovation of their respective teams. Pakistan, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 are the four fortunate teams that managed to reach the semifinals and a “crack jack” competition is expected in these matches.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mumbai-c820, raising anticipation for this paramount clash of the tournament globally.
Both teams are arch-rivals and would not stand the thought of losing an encounter against the other in any situation or event. Both, India and Pakistan, have a significant history of “Match Fixing” and “Spot Fixing” with numerous players of both sides being associated with match fixing in the past. Anyhow a major enigma looming over everyone’s mind is the impact of “Bookies” in the semi-final.
Three players from the Pakistani team were imputed by the ICC (International Cricket Council) for having relations with bookies and alleged of spot fixing in the Lord’s Test Matches in England last year. “Bookie” is a term associated with the subcontinent region exclusively where they have earned fortunes for a significant period of time. They possess a unique skill of reaching the players and corrupting them by offering them large amounts of money to perform badly or as per their accord for their team.
The ICC Anti-Corruption Bureau, along with the respective boards of both teams, is struggling to ensure that the semi-final remains free from Bookies’ influence. However, one should muse over the fact that players’ morality level is the key factor, over any other factor, in match and spot fixing. With such high stakes and people’s hopes and expectations involved, one is ought to keep in mind that “Bookies” would definitely try to reach the dressing rooms of the teams.
Though, ICC is continuously claiming that they have tried their best to have the dressing rooms and cell phones of the Team Managements monitored, yet Bookies have their ways of entering into the managements’ domain and entice the players for match and spot fixing, specifically by reaching a third person who can indirectly convey a message to the players.
Bookies can reach players in oddest settings like hotels and parking areas where they can beat around the surveillance. It is a well-known fact that the largest source of corruption in the world is the anti corruption unit of any organization since they are aware of the most appropriate and easiest means to bask into corruption and bribery.
The ICC’s Anti-Corruption Bureau’s officials cannot be guaranteed that they may not be tempted by a heavy bribe by the bookies and allow them to reach the players. Any person can be sold and one cannot take guarantee for any individual.
There are major speculations and rumors that bookies have already reached the Indian team and there is a chance that the Indian team might end up losing the semi final. The Pakistani Interior Minister's warning to the Pakistani players to not indulge in match fixing along with all the buildup before the match gives a bad signal to the spectators and one ponders over what might be the reason behind all these allegations and statements. No matter what the outcome of the semi-final is, it is a fact that “Bookies” are real and for the sake of the game we all hope that this would be one semi final that remains “Booky Free” in all aspects.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article do not represent Bettor.com's editorial policy
Tags: