The History of Match Fixing in Cricket - Where Are The Roots

Match fixing is an evil, and it can destroy the image of any game. In recent past the match fixing controversies alarm the cricket world, but ICC only relied on banning three Pakistani players, ICC did not try to reach the roots of this evil. The question is where the roots are?  If we look at the history of match fixing we will find only one world common in all the cases, and this word is ‘India’. But despite removing the roots of this curse in India, ICC is watering this evil through IPL.

This is not only wealth which could be used for match fixing, glamour of Bollywood and threatening power of underworld could also be used for this purpose in India. infact India has all the formalities required for match fixing. Most of IPL franchisees are controlled by bollywood actresses; and the money of underworld is also involved in it, therefore, the glamour of these beautiful actresses and the threatening power of under world can also affect the matches. Now look at the most of the match fixing issues, one word ‘India’ is common in all these cases:-

1.       In 1998 two Australian players Mark Wagh and Shane Warn were charged for the charges that Indian bookmaker had given money to both Mark Waugh and Shane Warne for pitch and weather information. Resultantly both were fined and were caution with a warning that future contacts could lead them towards bans.

2.       In 2000 Indian police blamed South African captain Hansie Cronje for being involved in match fixing.  After initial denial Cronje accepted the charges. He accepted that he had been paid $15,000 for forecasting results of ODIs in 2000. Later on this fact was also disclosed that he offered $15,000 to Harselle Gibbs and Henry Williams each for underperforming  in ODI of Nagpur, but Gibbs did not accept the offer and perform well in that match, but later on in some other cases Gibbs and Williams were also found guilty. Resultantly Hansie Cronje was awarded punishment of life ban, Gibbs and Williams were suspended from cricket for six months for involvement in this scandal.

3.       In 2000 former Indian Captain Azharuddin was found guilty for match fixing, and three other players Ajay Jadeja, Manoj Prabhakar and Ajay Sharma were charged for links with bookies. Resultantly Azharuddin and Ajay Sharma were awarded Life Ban punishment and Jadejay was banned for 5 years. Prabhakar was disqualified from holding any official post in BCCI.

4.       In 2008 West Indies player Marlon Samuels was banned for two years for providing on field information to an Indian bookie during West Indies’ tour to India in 2007.

5.       Former Pakistan Cricket Team captain Saleem Malik was awarded life ban punishment for his links with Indian bookies. In his one of interview, famous Indian bookie Mukhes Gupta acknowledged his links with Saleem Malik.

6.       According to a report by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of India in 2000, famous bookmaker Mukesh Gupta has accepted that he had used a senior Indian umpire for collection of information of the pitch during an one-day series against England in 1993.

7.       A former Indian Test Player told CBI of India that a ground man from Delhi was also used by bookies for laying out an under-prepared pitch which was used for Test match against Australia in 1996. He was paid $1,000 for this job.

8.       In the recent past three Pakistani players has been banned for match fixing charges. Yes, there is no Indian world involved in it, but according to information, the wife of Bookie Mazher Majeed is Indian. May be she is a gentle lady, but this is fact that she is Indian and her husband is a bookie and involved in match fixing scandal with Pakistani Players.

These are some examples for eyes opening, one should ask a question that what ICC has done for cutting the roots of match fixing in its pioneer country. One can imagine that how easy is match fixing in India, where, one can buy the services of players, umpires and even ground man according to his needs. In the recent ICC world cup Indian media highlighted an issue. According to Indian media during a match between India and Ireland a famous bookie was present in the dressing room of Indian cricket team. Shane Warne who had been already awarded punishment for his match fixing allegation in past predicated that match between England and India will be a tie and the result was same. But ICC remained silent in both the cases. This silence is meaningful. The question is why ICC is granting so much attention towards useless IPL which is a league played only for making money. Why ICC is encouraging players in just making money. May be, the aim of ICC is now also only making money. If this is the case, then it must be a matter of concern for cricket lovers.