Sep 17, 2002 06:09 PM
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(Updated Sep 17, 2002 06:11 PM)
Cricket has grown from being merely a game to now a reputed career option which brings along loads of glamour, recognition and ofcourse money. Games, as we believe long ago were as good as hobbies, something which we enjoy doing in our leisure time. Of late many a sports have taken big leap and strides. I believe its good to some extent, but it might take away the charm of a game as a game!!! Now that loads and loads of money is involved in cricket, poured in by the sponsors and media, cricket has bounced from the second last page of the newspaper to the front page headlines.
Participation money is guaranteed irrespective of wins/losses. So, a cricketer will surely be taking something very impressive in anyway back home. Now comes the now ripe issue of Match Fixing. No legalities apply to the game other than moralities. Match fixing is not bounded by any country's law, so this gives the cricketers virtually a free hand. Only catch here is that one has to fool proof in his deeds/misdeeds!!! It does at times gets very difficult to control one's temptation when huge huge money is at stake while fixing. Ofcourse everyone has the right to think about their future. Unlucky are not to be spared as we all saw the sorry state of affairs of Late Hansie Cronje, Md.Azharuddin, Ajay Jadeja etc.. Some are lucky to get away with a little stick as Herschelle Gibbs.
As the adage goes, ''Everything is fair in love and war'', we can say ''Everything is fair in love, war and CRICKET''.
Whether the current ICC is fair or fixed, much depends on the involved players' psyche and morals. We have already one case in the form of Pakistani cricketers Shahid Afridi etc being considered as foul elements in their first outing in ICC.
Strict laws can only bring back the glorious days of cricket, as it used to be once.
