Mazher Majeed’s Allegations Against Indians and Australians

In England during hearing of Fraud case against Pakistani cricketers, a recording of conversation between Bookie Mazaher Majid and Reporter Mazhar Mehmood has been presented. According to this recording Mazher Majeed has claimed that almost all senior Australian cricketers are involved in match fixing and spot fixing. He also added that he was in contact with Indian players Harbhjan Sing and Youvraj Sing. He also disclosed his contacts with some other Pakistani players like Umer Akmal, Kamran Akmal and Imran Farhat.

Now this is test case for ICC. Can ICC launch inquiry against Australian and Indians? Australian board has already rejected Mazhar Majeed’s allegations. ICC, BCCI and CA were the strong supporters of Mazher Majeed’s allegations against Pakistani players. But now CA is not taking  his allegations against Australians serious. Though BCCI has not showed its reaction till now, but some senior players has denied Mazher Majeed’s allegations against Indian players. Remember that these senior players were very furious against Pakistani players when they were named by Mazher Majeed as fixers, but now when he named some Indians they are furious against Mazher Majeed instead of Indian players. This attitude shows double standards of Indians and Australians. One can understand that they are not sincere with the game; otherwise they were due to demand similar inquiry as it was in case of Pakistani players.

If ICC is sincere in prevention of match fixing in cricket, it should contact Mazher Majeed and should launch inquiry for judging the allegations but if ICC remained silent against Australians and Indians it would be considered that all this drama was only a conspiracy against Pakistani players. 

Disappointing Role of ICC in Prevention of Match Fixing

It is said that Match Fixing, Fancy Fixing and Spot Fixing exists in the game of cricket since long long ago. Shane Warne and Mark Waugh from Australia, Harshelle Gibbs, Nicky Boy and Hansie Cronje from South Africa, Azhar Ud Din and Ajay Jadeja from India and Salim Malik from Pakistan have faced the allegations of Match fixing. Therefore, for the prevention of Match Fixing ICC has established an unit named Anti Corruption and Security Unit. The duty of this unit is to prevent match fixing and other corruption in game of cricket. But if we review the character of this unit, we can say that either this unit is not serious in prevention of corruption in game or it is  not capable of doing so. Because in recent days if we look at the spot fixing scandal of Pakistan Cricket team, it is clear that Anti Corruption Unit of ICC was totally failed to identify this corruption. It was weekly “World of News” who identified the corruption. So therefore, the role of  Anti Corruption Unit is questionable. One can draw conclusion that for prevention of Match fixing we cannot depend upon this unit.

The question is, what is this unit doing. What is the duty of this Unit? Why ICC does not feel responsibility for its failure. But there is another side of the picture also. Most of the time ICC actions look like they are supporting bookies for some reasons. I will give you one example here. If we look at the World Cup which was played in West Indies and where Pakistan loss his Match to Ireland. One can ask some question about the following two aspects.

Number one “Most of the wickets were balance for Bellowing and Bating”. Number Two “Then why the wicket on which an Asian country (Pakistan) was playing against a European country (Ireland) was prepared to suite the weak team that was Ireland (The wicket was quick and bouncy)”. Because most of the European teams are better then Asian on a quick wicket.  In other words a chance was given to weak team to win against the favorite. Why ICC did so, I think only bookie may concern with the win of weak team. And ICC given a chance to weak team to win and help the bookies. Several times ICC prepares quick and bouncy wickets in a country that have record of slow and dead wickets. It is look like ICC want to get unexpected results for some reasons. So, therefore, I think that another Anti Corruption Unit must be established to have a watch on the corruption of ICC officials also.