Match-fixing: ICC needs to step up before it is too late - Part 2
Continued from the previous part...
The whole cricketing world was taken by shock when the an English tabloid broke the story of the involvement of three http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 in the Lords Test, back in July 2010. After a decision from the assigned
Inquiry Committee, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Asif-c1993 are facing bans from all formats of the game.
If this was not enough to raise the eye brows of cricket authorities, Pakistan’s wicket-keeper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zulqarnain-Haider-c98685 decided to escape from Dubai to London, without informing the team management on the morning of their last One Day International against South
Africa. He later on claimed that he had received death threats from bookmakers to underperform in the limited overs series against the Proteas.
The reason behind the involvement of more Asian players in match-fixing could be the fact that they do not have a social security system in their countries, when compared to some of the other major cricketing nations. However, there is no doubt that players
from every country have been involved in match-fixing, which has been proved in the past.
ICC should make sure that anyone who comes up and alleges others of corruption, proves his claims. International cricketers, who do not see a bright future for themselves in the game start a new debate by giving controversial statements in the media about
match-fixing and later, do not prove their allegations.
The matter has become very serious now, after Zulqarnain Haider and Hashan Tillekaratne have claimed that majority of the international matches are fixed and the players underperform deliberately to make black money. One can argue about Haider’s claims and
acts but Tillekaratne’s allegations have to be taken seriously, considering the fact that he has played international cricket for a long time with integrity and has also captained his country.
Tillakaratne said that he did not give the statements regarding match-fixing to hurt anyone and the former captain added that he is going to share all the information he has with International Cricket Council. The former left-handed batsman claimed that
he has talked about corruption in the game, just because he truly loves cricket.
The former captain, said, "I made the statements [about match-fixing] neither to get political mileage nor to put anyone in an awkward position. I made the comments in good faith and I will share the information with the ICC. The exercise was meant to protect
the game and the players we all love so much."
Let’s hope that Tillakaratne lives up to his commitments and helps the ICC to eradicate fixing, from one of the most popular sports of the world, which is loved like a religion in the sub-continent.
It is high time that the ICC takes the appropriate steps and wins this battle against corruption in the ‘gentlemen’s game’ once and for all. Already, cricket fans from all across the globe have lost trust on some of their players.
If the necessary measures are not taken at the right time, then it would be impossible for the ICC to regain the credibility for the game. With the success of the recently concluded ICC World Cup 2011, cricket lovers from all over the world have regained
interest in the ODI format of the game. If the ICC is able to eradicate match-fixing issues from the sport, clean cricket will surely be seen in the future.
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