Clean bowled

There are no half measures for us. We careen headlong from ecstasy to hatred with nary a thought for cause or consequences. Our spectru...

8220;There are no half measures for us. We careen headlong from ecstasy to hatred with nary a thought for cause or consequences. Our spectrum has only black and white. There is no space for any shades of grey.8221; Salman Rushdie8217;s words in Haroun and the Sea of Stories could well describe the curious drama starring Pakistan8217;s fallen cricketing gods. That cricket cannot be deemed a mere sport in the subcontinent goes without saying but the match-fixing saga highlights the surreal realm where justice and emotion interface, with vulnerable nationalism thrown in for good measure. When the Justice Qayyum committee wrapped up its wide-ranging inquiry, only to have its reports kept under wraps till the World Cup concluded, the stakes were clearly marked out. Since all the accused were part of the squad, if the team returned triumphant, the report would be quietly buried amidst riotous celebrations. If they faltered, well8230;.

As it happened, not only did the Pakistani eleven commit the unforgiveable crime oflosing 8220;a practice match8221; to India, but they comprehensively and humiliatingly caved in to the resurgent Aussies. So, wham, just days after President Rafiq Tarar suspended the entire Pakistani cricket board, framing of charges was ordered against seven of the country8217;s most talented players, a bunch who can form the spine of any winning combination. And a day later Akram, Salim Malik and Ijaz Ahmed stand suspended from the national side. Any attempts to cleanse the game must be wholeheartedly supported, but the manner in which the revelations have suddenly poured forth raises some niggling questions. The timing of the suspension notwithstanding, why have only three players been suspended, not all seven? Why are their suspensions valid till 8220;they prove themselves innocent8221;? Is the Pakistan Cricket Board thus keeping the option of accepting their innocence in case it requires their services? As for the other four 8212; Inzamam-ul Haq, Moin Khan, Waqar Younis and Saqlain Mushtaq 8212; now that they have beenindicted, can other squads refuse to play against them? But to repeat the obvious, cricket is too emotive an issue in the subcontinent for it to remain confined to the sporting world. And so, there are reports that the Pakistan People8217;s Party is considering making common cause with Akram against the Ehtesaab Bureau, deterred only by rumours that Ahmed and Co. frequented casinos during their English summer.

In India perhaps the BCCI will now take a leaf out of its Pakistani counterpart8217;s book and institute a proper inquiry into the match-fixing allegations that have been brushed under the carpet. In fact, the Pakistani inquiry has revolved around depositions by Rashid Latif, Aamir Sohail and Ata-ur Rahman. Latif and Sohail have also levelled charges against certain Indian cricketers. Let a transparent committee inquire whether these are wild stories or crucial leads. For only if there is a measure of accountability will we be able to navigate the more realistic zone between hatred and ecstasy.