Footloose

It is now almost a month since the scandal broke out. Yet, we are no where nearer to the truth, than where we were when it first came to light. Ifanything, one gets the feeling we are moving farther away from it asmore probes and more inquiries are announced; and at the same time moreallegations and more denials are being spewed every morning and evening.

There was just one interesting word that emerged from the one-and-half-day long deliberations at the ICC meeting in London. The word was `amnesty’.

On the face of it, it would seem ludicrous to allow the guys who made an ass of all of us to get away scot-free by simply turning approver of sorts and "spilling the beans". Interestingly, the word was not mentioned again. Yet, there is a section of cricketing fraternity, which has vehemently opposed "amnesty".

However, a day or two after the initial anger at ICC’s impotency has ebbed away, one is tempted to see some merit in "amnesty" for those who come out with the details. Right now we are headed nowhere. Unless someone gets pangs of guilt like Hansie Cronje did after a sleepless night and sought solace in a confession to his pastor, we will still be miles away from the truth even as `corrupt’ players and officials continue with their speeches on "how great this game is". We all also know how even convicted and proven criminals continue to plead "not guily".

Look at it this way: Amnesty is a bit of a compromise but it has been used as a means to tackle a problem, or at least to begin solving it. In the past, dacoits in India have been assured reduced sentences and sometimes even allowed to go free on surrendering their arms; militants have been set free in exchange for hostages; militants have been freed to facilitate talks and build an atmosphere of trust. Economic offenders have been allowed a scheme like the VDIS.

So why not a compromise in cricket. That way, we will at least get close to some of our very own "Jekyll and Hydes" of cricket. Sometimes a more subtle approach can help solve a difficult problem.

My fear is that the lobby which opposes amnesty does not understand that we do need "an approver" to get to a starting point. Or perhaps, they are simply not interested in seeing the problem solved. Meanwhile, corruption in cricket — where else will you find a team meeting to discuss whether or not to throw a match — is beginning to make WWF wrestling look like tiddlywinks. And worse, the dirt could stay under the carpet even as more is being added to it to make it thicker by the day.

So please grant amnesty to all those who promise to "tell all"; fine all the gamblers Rs. 50 — which is what our law decrees for such criminals — and take cricket to the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands and Monte Carlo and allow us to get on with our lives.

V Krishnaswamy can be contacted at swamy@ndf.vsnl.net.in