Fixing Allegations, my thoughts

Yes... Cricket's darkest secret and nightmare is back! When NOTW aired the videos with Majeed boasting and correctly predicting the 'No-Balls", the great game took a step back and "Gambling" was in the forefront.

I did see the videos and looks like it is pretty convincing evidence. Anger is the feeling we all share and justifiable as well. Last 2 months or so, Asif and Amir had provided so much joy to cricket lovers like me. I preferred watching the test matches in England rather than the run fest in 2nd Test Match of Sri Lanka and a useless ODI Tournament. Asif and Amir were so impressive in series' down under last year. And yet, it all came to this.

Let's go and try to analyse the culprits I think and punishments I feel is fair.

PCB: Yes, Pakistan Cricket Board. It is one of the most disgusting institutions ever. The entire cricketing world need to remember that Rashid Latif and Basit Ali were the first ever individuals (yes not an Aussie or Englishman, but a Pakistani - So not a 'Culture' Issue, a dig @ Aussies) who had guts to speak against the match-fixing malaise. Rashid Latif had also warned about Spot-Fixing seven years back and had even suggested ICC or PCB (am not sure) to organize a mock match/series and he will help identify the spot event and the culprits. But they all fell in deaf ears. Casual 'Life Bans" look like a sabbatical and the same set of players keep coming back. Shoaib Akhtar has got so many chances to clean up his act. Qayyum report had clearly told that players like Wasim, Waqar, Saeed, Inzi were unco-operative. Justice Qayyum himself claimed that he was a fan of Wasim and hence, was very lenient on him. Qayyum had put in some corrective measures which were never implemented to clean-up the system.Waqar is one of the few players who was caught in the act of ball tampering but went on to become the captain of the side. Is there any other nation who would like to have Shahid Afridi as the captain after his dancing on the rough side of the pitch act against England during the lunch break and ball-biting event? Salim Mallik was banned for life but it is revoked in 2008 or so. Rashid Latif and Basit Ali never gets a proper chance to make a come back. Rashid Latif is actually outcasted. This clear lack of leadership among the institution shows that they don't care for the game or the ones who play it and obviously, the ones who watch it. PCB needs to be completely revamped. The only corrective measure I can think is give the reins to Rashid Latif and I am sure he will atleast turn out a system nourishing honest cricketers.

Salman Butt: Just as I was starting to like him and thinking that this might just be start of a new era for Pak, all this allegations came about. His stats are not something you can boast of but it was the demeanour with which he used to appear during press conferences which impressed me and many others. He has been around for 7 years so there can be no leniency towards him. Life ban. I don't care if it was only spot fixing but you cannot get away with it after you were supposedly serving the game and the nation for 7 years. He should have been wiser that this. And 7 years with 1 IPL Season (part of KKR in the Inaugural IPL Season) does not make him poor. It is just cunningness and greed that led to his actions. Especially as a captain, he should be given exemplary punishment. No sympathy.

Mohd Asif: His fast bowling is of the highest quality, a decent amount of swing with amazing accuracy. But if there was anyone who was blinded by the glitz, glam and money, it is Asif. He tested positive for banned substances in IPL, then was caught in Dubai for Drug possession and now spot-fixing. An insitution like PCB meant that he can get away with the first 2 offences. He is an ideal example of bright people gone wrong. He has now become criminal minded and entirely corrupted. The game of cricket can no longer take a chance with him again. He is a habitual offender. He needs to be cut-off from the game. A life ban is what I seek for him. Thanks for some amazing spells but that is it. Bid Adieu!

Mohammad Amir: Genius with an incredible talent. Before we judge this guy, I would like all of you to remember what you were at the age of 17-18 years. And then imagine if you were also from a small village where Taliban can close a highway as per their whims. I don't know if his village had any proper means of print media. And now imagine that this naive simpleton with a rags to riches story, a fairy tale (if there was any), is being coerced or allured by a serial offender that you can get away with anything. Then the captain tells him to bowl a no-ball and earn some money. It won't affect the result of the match. It is too small. You won't be caught and it won't harm the team. At this moment, please spare a thought how this lad with an impressionable mind would think. My heart goes out for this guy in this entire fiasco. A legendary career cut short by a moment of madness. It also proves the lack of leadership and structure in PCB, which does not care for it's young stars. PCB has done nothing to protect the interests of this guy. He was just out there for the wolves. If Amir was involved in a few instances of Spot-fixing and never in any kind of match-fixing, a suspension of 5 years would be sufficient. Let him re-start his career at the age of 23 as a wiser man. I believe the game of cricket can give him one more chance and the game will be only richer because of it. Hope the officials do the right thing and take the complete picture when judging him. I only hope that it was spot fixing and not match fixing. And if he did indulge in any kind of match-fixing, he needs to be given a life ban. Many hearts might still be sympathetic towards him but that is what it would be. He will become part of a very sad and sorry folklore. As for now, I wish him the very best and wish that he cleans up the act. I would still like to remind people his exuberance and joy when he took the 5-for in the tainted Lords test. Also, right after the no-ball there was dropped chance of Alistair Cook. Let me remind people that the expression of anger in Amir's face looked that of a simple bowler who was upset he did not get the wicket. He is not criminal yet. He can be the 1 success story which every young Pak kid of now and the future can still aspire for. I hope this come true.