Cricket Scandal

The news of the match-fixing scandal is unfolding with shocking revelations and unbelievable denials, pushing Pakistan players, officials and government deeply into the mire of shame and embarrassment. Even as there are nervous murmurs of discomfort in Sri Lanka and to a lesser extent in India the world of cricket is pretending to wake up suddenly and behaving as if a devil has sprung from the woodwork and bitten them!

The innocent expressions of surprise from everyone at the helm of affairs at various levels in cricket may be taken at its face value. This is not the time to judge anyone by their "holier than thou" statements.  Only the most innocent can be excused in believing that cricket is the sport of gentlemen. Let us also stop pretending that things are going to change after this. If at all, the stakes have only gone higher. A game like cricket that is played and enjoyed by many, also generates tremendous revenue to everyone involved in it however remotely. The scope and magnitude of this revenue can only increase – and as long as there are innovative thinkers, and money (black or white) available – we will only see growth in this.

Tell me what normal one minute activity in a match played over 5 days at 6 hours per day can generate 10,000 to 20,000 pounds (over Rs.7 to 15lakhs) for the player, and 10 million pounds (over Rs.70 crores) to the bookie? That’s what happens when a bowler bowls a “fixed” no-ball or a batsman bats out a “fixed” maiden over. Till someone can think up a better formula, you can be sure this will stay.

Then again, nobody "belled" the cat - and there is a reason. The stakes are so high, the involvement so deep, the crime so trivial that the whistle blower will be the first to be isolated and fixed! Secondly, let us face it - in most countries like England, Australia and other advanced countries, gambling is a perfectly legal activity and also well regulated - to a large extent. Only in our subcontinent, gambling is illegal because we are like ostriches with heads buried in sand and do not want to set our archaic laws right – because it greases the system and keeps everyone happy.

It is no secret that Indian bookies make the biggest killing. Hansie Cronje and our own Azar were sacrificed at the alter of gambling. Can anyone tell me how many bookies spent time in jail? Let someone also hazard a guess how much “black” money the police and other enforcement agencies are making out of each game? This is the “tax” that is paid by the bookies. So, I should guess, in the game of scratching each other’s back, it pays to keep gambling illegal. It also pays to raise an occasional boogie, like the one currently on, to “advertise” the system that exists – and things will eventually simmer down till the next big thing happens!

Take an Indian player, official or someone from the media who wagers a bet on a match (or some aspect of it), while in England. Would it be illegal? I will tend to believe that he is doing a perfectly legal activity - which is considered normal in England. If that is so, would it not be a logical extension that he seeks tips from “someone in the know of things” to make a more informed decision? (Now, if he doesn’t do that, then he should not be an Indian!)

When one gambles, the results are predictable. Every gambler knows, you can't win them all. Where laws are regulated, there is definite restriction on "fixing" or "loading the dice". But, these are gray areas, since you need very definitive evidence to prove this in court - and then again, there has to be a complainant. The person who complain is a person who has been put to a loss because of the "fixing". Unless the loss can be established, there is no law broken! I doubt if Scotland Yard will be able to charge anyone in this case. They only came into the picture in response to a media exposure of this sordid event.

All those making noises in the present instance are those innocent romantics who have no stakes in the matter. At best they have an intention to “clean-up the system” or at worst - a chance to pull others down, so that they can show how holy they are! As far as I am concerned, while I enjoy reading the excitement and buzz created, and people tearing into one other's character and culture, I do not have any tears for the gambler who wagered and lost. I don't think he is also bothered much - because these happy go lucky folks are already onto their next bet!

Still, it must be told that this gambling is much more of a cleaner racket than our State Government lotteries. So, why are we making such a big deal of it?

In my next post I would like to highlight the hypocrisy of "gentleman" of other nations who are talking of the "criminal culture" of Pakistan as a whole - because of a few "upright, young men" who were unfortunate to get "caught" with their hands in the till. Of course, they will deny everything till their hair turns gray - because history tells them – and our system is such that showing honesty or remorse will lead them to being lynched. Remember Hansie Cronje?

The fact is we do not have the honest non compromised men to face this issue squarely and fairly. Red flags were raised repeatedly, many times in the past. Why did they keep their eyes and ears shut? It was their business to clean up their own environment? Now that we have such a large band-wagon braying for blood, does the administration have the spunk to set things right on a whole sale basis? You can bet your last Rupee on that!

My sympathies are with the old romantics, who hoped for a “better” way, not only for cricket but life and values as a whole – we are extinct. This is another generation!