Rooted in corruption, cricket needs an upheaval

The curse of deceit has dealt another crushing blow to the heart of cricket. The IPL might only be a poor imitation of cricket at its finest, but it is the richest cousin. And we found out yet again that the deviant devil has shattered the peace of the devout. The revelations of spot-fixing levelled by the Delhi police struck at the very heart of the devastated sect. As if torn apart by a Gerber Mark II, the body of cricket lay motionless, slipping slowly into the precipice of darkness.

The clamour to nail S. Sreesanth, Ajit Chadila and Ankeet Chavan is very understandable. But it is downright stupid and dangerous to even consider it as a solution to the malaise. The disease runs deep and dealing with fools treats nothing but the lamest symptoms.

Whispers about connivance have lingered around the IPL shindig ever since its inception. If we do not fix the malaise now, cricket is at risk of losing its character forever. Punish the guilty in the severest manner possible, but that must just serve as an appetiser.

While greed seems to be the overwhelming factor driving this behaviour, it is also important to understand if fear has played a role. Greed could indeed be the reason, but given the intricate involvement of seedy criminals it is only fair to examine whether there are other factors forcing the hand of these players.

The gentleman’s game is fast mutating into a 21st century monster. And even its mother, if there was one, might have a tough time recognising its ugly face. The thrills and spills of the shortest version of cricket almost ensure that T20 shall represent the future face of the game.

We could become the generation that oversaw the departure of cricket from a fine sport into a mean machine meant for mindless entertainment. Unless we address the situation with a firm hand and an honest conviction, we would be simply handing the game to demons.

Money has flooded cricket, but then it is never enough for men who fail to see beyond the day. It is increasingly important to invest in measures that enhance awareness and responsibility among players. Cricket is a team game, but much of IPL’s celebration is concentrated in the individual.

As a result, the stars in the team live in a parallel universe while the rest languish on the kerb without any guarantees about their fate for the next season. IPL needs to discover an equitable means to reward teams rather than individuals.

The mad clamour from sponsors to associate their name with witless rewards (nayi soch or maximum sixes for instance have no context or place in a team sport) is fostering selfishness rather than promote team effort. The syndicates are finding it easy to prey upon the disenfranchised players who play in the same team for a fraction of the winnings of their star team-mates.

Far too often in the past, players have been caught fixing only to be rehabilitated without any significant damage to their livelihood or reputation. Examples abound, but the most glaring let down has been former captain Mohammad Azharuddin. Banned for life, the Hyderabadi has been more than rehabilitated – occupying a seat in the hallowed parliament of our great nation.

Incidents such as these inspire little confidence in the system. And with star power increasing with each passing day, the marginalised men are inclined to make hay while the going is good enough. The disenchanted are easy prey for the seasoned men who run these rackets based on script and ingenuity.

The funds generated from the event need to be ploughed back into the game to create respect and tradition for the league. Still in its nascent stages, the IPL and its ill-conceived fellowship with commerce are threatening to deface what was considered a gentleman’s endeavour.

Avarice and urgency have meant that the event gains neither loyalty nor success, each season turning into a fresh adventure. The IPL teams need to be held accountable for the business from the league. There is an urgent need to bring about transparency into the administration of each team so that fans understand and respect the state of their favourite team. Player transactions need to be coordinated in an orderly manner during the designated periods.

Speaking of transparency, the problem has its source in the parent body. BCCI is notorious for its lack of strict action, despite several incidents of dishonour in the recent past. The president N Srinivasan would do well to institutionalise change and bring about structural transformation. There will not be a bigger travesty if the board isolates this incident as an aberration.

As the central body governing cricket in India, BCCI has an obligation to the people of India. If the Board is unwilling to accept its responsibilities, it is time for the government to force their hand. There is no place for corruption in sport – be it in the form of betting, inducements or doping. Evil has to be dealt with sternly. Loss of face is not enough any more; each indulgent fool should be made to serve time behind bars and suffer significant financial damage.

It is obvious that these men and women aren’t driven by the love for sport. Nothing but the fear and experience of penury will drive some remorse out of these tainted souls. Swift, reasonable and stern action is an immediate need. An event like the IPL has the potential to drive sport and therefore it is necessary to institute a framework within which hardworking men can pursue their passion for sport.

The ministries of home and sport should combine forces to initiate an independent professional investigation. The team should be given a broad mandate and a specific timeline to accomplish a thorough understanding of the nexus. The efforts of the investigators should be appropriately rewarded through stringent action against the culprits.

Inaction even after the detection of cancer will not only worsen the situation, it could prove fatal to the game of cricket.