All bluster and no substance
by Haze's Comment 14/02/2001, 00:00
You’ve just gotta love those British Papers! The Observer this week came up with a ‘scoop’ regarding what they called ‘fresh’ allegations regarding match-fixing! The truth of the matter is that some of the accusations date back to the 1980s.
The article was a rehash of previous unsubstantiated ‘finger pointing’ that sheds no new light on any misdemeanours. I, along with the rest of the cricketing world, am sick to death of innuendos that have no substance whatsoever.
For what it is worth, here is a summary of the so-called ‘startling revelations’ that appeared in The Observer this week.
Don’t look for any names or specifics because you will not find any.
West Indies players accepted money to give their wickets away during a One Day International in Australia.
A wicketkeeper deliberately dropped catches for cash.
An opening bowler faked injury to miss matches in return for bonuses.
Batsman provided crucial information to a bookmaker for money.
A batsman received $8000 (Aust) and some ‘gifts worth $12000 (Aust) for under-performing on a tour of Australia.
A Cup final was so fixed that players of both sides accepted $1000 (Aust) to throw their wickets.
A video recorder was gifted to a world-class spin bowler from a bookie in Singapore.
A batsman accepted $1000 (Aust) and received a gold bracelet to score less that 50 in the first innings of a Test in New Zealand.
A Director of an Australian banking institution acted as a bookmaker’s commission agent.
A New Zealand bookmaker paid his dues by way of hookers and blue movies in Wellington.
A doctor from New South Wales became a fast bowler’s mistress and an extremely active commission agent.
Three captains threw away their wickets for money.
I have never heard so much garbage in my life and I really believe there should be some form of punishment in place for individuals who shoot their mouths off without any credible proof.
This ban should include all administrators; former players, current players as well as attention-seeking journalists (if you can call some of them journalists) and it should entail a painful penalty.
This is the last thing that cricket needs now. There seems to be a bit of headway made around the world on the match-fixing front with the ICC anti-corruption team fairly busy in a number of countries.
Let them continue with their work without any hindrance and let’s support them in their endeavours to eradicate the game of this evil.
I cannot get off my high horse this week without mentioning my disappointment in the King Commission. For something that started so sensationally and cracked the cricket corruption scene wide open, it is ludicrous that it has now developed into such a farce.