The matchfixing saga has been one of the most long drawn andcontentious in the illustrious history of the glorious game we callcricket

Anand Vasu05-May-2001The matchfixing saga has been one of the most long drawn andcontentious in the illustrious history of the glorious game we callcricket. Although the worst has probably passed, there is still enoughhanging in the air to cause concern at the headquarters of theInternational Cricket Council (ICC). The interim report of the ICC’santi corruption unit says, apart from India, no country has takenserious steps to tackle matchfixing, reports Dawn, a Pakistaninewspaper.The Anti Corruption Unit (ACU), headed by Sir Paul Condon, recentlyhanded over the interim report to Lord Griffith, Chairman of the ICC’sCode of Conduct Committee. The Dawn newspaper however, does notexplain how it got access to a report that has not been made public asyet. In addition, the Dawn does not quote any sources.According to the Dawn, the interim report states that countries likeWest Indies, South Africa, Sri Lanka and New Zealand were not actingdecisively, even though there was increasing evidence that playersfrom these countries were involved in misdemeanors of this nature.When Pakistan toured New Zealand recently, coach Javed Miandad allegedthat matchfixing was still very much prevalent. The ICC too, seems toagree with this, if reports in the Dawn newspaper are to be believed.One must also keep in mind a couple of aspects. These allegations weremade by a man who had just been sacked. Again, The Dawn is known tocut corners on occasion. Recently, the newspaper leaked a report bythe Pakistan manager for the tour of New Zealand. Soon after the Dawnreport went to press, the comments referred to were denied by theFakir Aizazuddin.What is crucial in the report is that Condon and his team have foundthat the fixing and betting is not driven by greed alone. The reportallegedly has concluded that ‘some players, umpires and officials areso deeply involved with the criminal element they cannot stop cooperating for fear of their lives and property’. This brings theunderworld firmly into the picture, something that has been the worstfear of the authorities thus far.Although it is too early to draw any conclusions, with the report onlybeing leaked and not officially released to the public, one can besure that it will be yet another eagerly awaited document. First,there was the King Commission report in South Africa, based on whichHansie Cronje was banned for life. Herschelle Gibbs served out a sixmonth ban and returned to international cricket while Henry Williamswas let off with a warning.Then there was the Qayyum Report in Pakistan that found severalplayers guilty of malpractice of the kind that involved betting andmatchfixing. Salim Malik was banned for life while several otherprominent cricketers were fined.The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) report rocked Indiancricket, and as a direct fall out, Mohammed Azharuddin and Ajay Sharmawere banned for life while Ajay Jadeja, Manoj Prabhakar and Ali Iraniwere banned for a period of five years.Apart from India, Pakistan and South Africa, none of the other Testplaying countries have come out with comprehensive reports on theirinvestigations thus far. Although players like Alec Stewart ofEngland, Brian Lara of West Indies, Mark Waugh and Shane Warne ofAustralia and Arjuna Rantunga and Aravinda de Silva of Sri Lanka havefigured in various investigations, the matter has rested there.The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) conducted its own inquiry anddeclared both Warne and Waugh innocent of matchfixing. For the act ofproviding information to bookies, the pair was fined.Examining the evidence, it does not seem entirely improbable that theinterim report of the ICC has indeed stated what has appeared in theDawn. The same newspaper adds that the report will be made public onMay 23. When that happens, Indian cricket’s administrators could be infor a pat on the back from world cricket’s apex body. It may berecalled that Condon had a word of praise for the CBI inquiry and theinvestigation conducted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India’sown watchdog K Madhavan during his visit to India last year.