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And how the Gentleman's Game can be saved By APARISIM GHOSH April 13, 2000 Web posted at 3:30 p.m. Hong Kong time, 2:30 a.m. EST As shocking as it is, the Hansie Cronje saga is just one more sorry tale in a string of recent scandals that have sullied professional cricket. Indian, Pakistani and Australian players have already been accused of (and, in far too few instances, punished for) taking money from bookies--whether to fix matches or simply in exchange for information about team selection and pitch conditions. That a South African name has been added to the rogue's gallery is regrettable, but also inevitable.
There is no more time to waste. The International Cricket Council and the boards of all the major cricket-playing nations must join forces now and set up a powerful task force of former players to cleanse the sport, once and for all. They should seek guidance from players and administrators of other sports that have been tainted by match-fixing scandals in the past--baseball and football come readily to mind. Here's what the task force must do: - Bring in professional sleuths and conduct a worldwide investigation of the game. Every player, past and present, must be interviewed, every allegation pursued. The police forces of all the cricket-playing countries must be encouraged to crack down on illegal bookies. Unlike football or basketball, cricket is played in only a few countries, so a worldwide probe is not inconceivable. It will still be a huge enterprise, costing millions of dollars, but cricket boards like India's are flush with funds--they can afford it. If the administrators won't do it for the good of the sport, then perhaps they will to protect their own long-term financial interests. After all, if cricket is seen as crooked, the fans will stop watching and sponsors will take their money elsewhere. - Lobby countries to legalize betting on cricket. People will wager on the sports they love, no matter what restrictions are put it their way. If totalitarian states like China, Cuba and Saudi Arabia can't stop illegal betting, then India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, et al don't have a prayer. Better to bring gambling out into the open and let governments tax it to the hilt. In quick order, the small, shady bookies will be replaced by large, transparent gaming companies that wouldn't dare try to fix games for fear of losing their licenses. The British have learned that from experience. It's time they taught the others. - Finally, impose the most painful punishment in the world of sport on players (and administrators) found guilty of taking money from bookies. Show those namby-pambies at the IOC and FIFA how to deal with bent sportsmen--slap them with lifetime bans, huge fines and, where the laws allow it, jail time. But that's not all. Players found guilty of match-fixing should also have their names purged from the record books. It should be as if they never existed. For updates on the Cronje scandal see AsiaNow Sports Home, or follow the story directly by visiting Hansiegate: ICC chief pledges to deal severely with gambling (Wednesday April 12, 2000) Sound-off about the news in South Asia to TIME Write to TIME at mail@web.timeasia.com Search for recent Asia Buzz
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