Cricket's tarnished arena—a sport once revered for its passion and grit—now frequently grapples with the dark shadows of corruption, with spot-fixing scandals emerging as an alarming constant. Unlike the flurry of activity seen in cardiac emergency rooms or OPDs, a job in the ETT room is less chaotic, offering moments for contemplation and, often, a chance to unwind. My refuge after a long day of work and postgraduate studies lies in the cricketing world, whether through watching matches, reading articles, or scrolling through popular cricket websites. This routine is supposed to ease stress, yet lately, the news emerging from these sites only sows frustration. The re-emergence of spot-fixing has once again disrupted the sanctity of cricket.
After a quiet period, spot-fixing has reared its ugly head, this time marring the Indian Premier League (IPL). Three promising Indian cricketers—Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan, and Ajit Chandila—stand accused. To a cricket lover, witnessing such talented individuals' careers jeopardized is disheartening, rekindling memories of Muhammad Amir’s descent into scandal. The disappointment with Sreesanth is equally profound; he was a beacon of promise, now overshadowed by disgrace.
The question lingers: why would a cricketer, already well-paid, resort to such dishonourable means? The cash-rich IPL offers enough financial security to dissuade any need for illicit gains. But perhaps these cricketers are only the surface, mere players in a scheme far grander and darker, controlled by unseen hands who skillfully manipulate the game’s course.
Once a noble pursuit, cricket has transformed. It is now a machine generating millions, catering not only to players but to a network of businessmen who exploit it for their own gain. T20 leagues, while providing livelihoods and exposure, have unintentionally opened the floodgates for dark influences. The colossal sums of money flowing into these leagues are fertile ground for unscrupulous interests. Newspapers report how susceptible these tournaments are to spot-fixing, exposing young, impressionable athletes to a realm where quick profit can trump integrity. While these leagues have revolutionized cricket and made it more accessible, they have also inadvertently created a breeding ground for the morally bankrupt.
In any new venture, vice tends to follow opportunity. Evil's persistence in the face of innovation is hardly surprising, yet one might expect more vigilance from those at the helm. Rather than acting as guardians of the sport, cricket’s overseers often appear as engineers of this runaway money train, allowing it to tear through any obstacle in its path. Match-fixing isn’t a new affliction; it has haunted cricket for over a decade. The international cricketing authorities—the ICC and governing boards—could have taken robust action to eradicate this problem. Yet the recurrence of these scandals suggests an enduring negligence or, worse, an intentional blind eye. The game remains polluted by those who prioritize profit over preserving its essence.
Cricket demands not only physical prowess but also mental resilience. For every stalwart like Sachin Tendulkar or Rahul Dravid, capable of fending off temptation, there exists a vulnerable young talent, naïve and susceptible. These players, often overwhelmed by the pressures and enticements of the sport’s darker corridors, need guidance. Boards have a responsibility to protect them, not just to capitalize on their skill but to educate them on navigating the murky waters of international cricket.
Has the Board fulfilled its duty of care to these young players?
Cricketers like Sreesanth and Amir were not born as criminals; rather, they were ensnared by a system lacking safeguards, surrounded by devious criminals who feigned friendship only to exploit them. These masterminds—how do they hold such sway? How do they continually taint cricket’s reputation with impunity? Are they part of a more insidious network serving hidden power brokers? These are questions that linger, elusive and unanswered, leaving us with only guesses.
While Sreesanth and the others may face the consequences, and we may condemn them as we once did the Pakistani trio, the system remains intact. Meanwhile, the true puppeteers, shrewd and well-connected, continue to elude capture, chipping away at the spirit of cricket and our trust in the game.
Can cricket ever be liberated from those driven solely by the lure of wealth?
Perhaps, if it could be, we might yet find a remedy for its many afflictions.
Thank You
Faisal Caesar
No comments:
Post a Comment