An ostrich act

After a week and more of virtual silence, now comes the whimper. If the Hansie Cronje episode seemed to provide just a teaser of the rot afflicting the funny old game, the cricket establishment is fast proving to be sorely ill-equipped to undertake a spot of spring cleaning. A swirl of innuendo and wild allegations against practically every icon in present-day cricket may be threatening to brush aside all that the sport stands for, but the wise old men governing it have preferred to seek comfort in an ostrich act. On the face of it, the code of conduct formulated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India appears exemplary. Certainly, it should be obligatory for a player to report any contact initiated by bookmakers. And it is definitely in accordance with common sense that this be followed immediately with a tip-off to the local police, so that precious time is not lost in undertaking criminal investigation.

Scan the guidelines a little further, however, and it becomes evident that either the BCCI is piecing together a fig-leaf or it is dwelling in a little time warp. Consider these gems. As part of this code of conduct, the BCCI through its affiliated units will ensure that players are made aware of the fact that betting and match-fixing are not allowed. Accordingly, cricketers will be warned that bookmakers and betting syndicates could approach them and corrupt them. Hello! The ordinary fan could be forgiven for presuming that the challenge before the BCCI is the welter of charges of match-fixing and of dubious liaisons against a growing list of Indian cricketers, not the spectre of future Cronjes. A lesson or two in moral education to clarify what’s right and what’s wrong to innocent youngsters is all very well, but this code of conduct says nary a word on the misdemeanours allegedly blemishing the records of cricketers who either still take to the field or have retired in the recent past. It is all very wellto make the Chandrachud inquiry report public, especially since it did not find any evidence of match-fixing. But that hardly addresses the disquieting roar of accusation and anxiety that match results (or individual performances at any rate) were devoid of the proverbial glorious uncertainties.

So even as the BCCI self-righteously offers all support to the Delhi Police investigation which its secretary Jaywant "I was misquoted" Lele declared to be "rubbish" it indignantly brushes aside any insinuation that it itself has been lax. It is clear that the current cricketing hierarchy is structured like a house of cards. Can reform in that case come from within? Any further dent on cricket’s image by way of proven charges of misconduct would only hit its booming profits, Rs 16 crore annually at last count. And yet, if a wind of change can blow away the cards, the termites eating away at the foundations at the moment pose a bigger danger. Too many key members of the Indian squad (playing and otherwise) are under a cloud. It is imperative that the wheat be separated from the chaff forthwith, or current cynicism about cricket could give way to enduring disgust.