No ifs and Butts

What a shameful week on the cricketing front as three of the game’s most wanted were convicted, humiliated and sentenced. Three Pakistan cricketers have now earned the title of ‘jailbirds’ after being found guilty of spot-fixing.

Evidence also suggested that this test was not an isolated case. I am appalled that morally void cricketers have betrayed us. Deliberately determining the outcome of an event, even if it is a micro-managed occurrence, is blatant cheating and fraudulent to those that matter – the supporters.

Peter Roebuck summed it up brilliantly during the week. He said, “Sport itself is sincere or it is nothing. Seeing and believing must be bedfellows. Cricket can no longer make any such claim.” That succinctly summarises our despair.

The sentences were stiff but necessary. They send a loud and clear message to any shady characters that may in the future choose to denigrate the game and live a lie. Upon the announcement of the penalties there would also have been a handful of individuals thankful that they acted unscrupulously in a different era. Had the same principles applied in yesteryear, some cricket prison terms would have been quite lethal.

Three weeks of intense examination in a profiled courtroom in London provided high drama that unfolded rapidly from one day to the next. Enough evidence was presented to condemn the guilty three but disturbingly, upon the trial's conclusion, none of the indicted showed any genuine remorse. These undesirables were rightfully stripped bare of all credibility and will carry the scars for life. As was pointed out in a colleague’s tweet, it is remarkable to think that these crimes were played out in front of 25 000 people at the ground and also live to millions watching on television around the cricketing globe

I was saddened by the way the ICC immediately trumpeted success. They need to be honest with themselves. Their Anti-Corruption Unit that has been functioning for many years has been exposed as an ineffective operation. It took some quite brilliant investigative journalism from the now defunct News of the World tabloid to nail these collective criminals. It had absolutely nothing to do with the ICC and their so-called corrective arm.

That is simply not good enough, and considering the exorbitant fees they charge to be involved with commercial events, they should be ashamed of themselves. They are way off the mark, ignorant of such deviousness and ineffectual. They have previously cleared some suspicious games that will now be placed under renewed scrutiny of wrongdoing. Such was the thoroughness of the sting and the court proceedings.

For one such example, look no further that the test match between Australia and Pakistan in Sydney in January 2010. After both teams batted first, Pakistan had a first innings lead of 206 runs. Following an eventful and extraordinarily charmed 9th wicket partnership of 137 between Hussey and Siddle, Pakistan required 175 to win. They were coasting at one stage but a dramatic collapse ensured they were dismissed for 139 runs and lost by 36. They lost their last 5 wickets for 36 runs and their last 4 wickets for a mere 6 runs. The ICC in their wisdom said that result was above board. Really?

The final day of sentencing in London was a dark day for the game. It also however drew a line in the sand and announced that criminals in the game will not be tolerated.