Police has evidence to nail culprits in the betting and match-fixing scandal

In sharp contrast to the swift damage-control exercise launched by the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA), the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has remained mute since the Delhi Police blew the whistle on the South African cricketers’ nexus with bookies in fixing matches.

The BCCI cannot hide under the pretext that the issue does not involve the Indian team. There were two compelling reasons for the Indian cricket board to issue an official statement:

n The act of treason was enacted on Indian soil, and as the host board, they carried an enormous responsibility in upholding the integrity of the nation and the honour of the game itself;

n There was a passing mention that though there was no direct involvement of the Indian players in the latest — and as yet the most damaging — episode of the betting and match-fixing saga, the Delhi Police nevertheless has not ruled out that possibility.

Even more disgusting are the inane statements made by International Cricket Council (ICC) Chief Jagmohan Dalmiya in Dhaka. Here was the Delhi Police addressing a global media with the most devastating evidence against the players. And all Mr Dalmiya could mouth was that he cannot say anything on “hearsay” and that the ICC had its own machinery which will take its course and that there is “nothing to worry”. Couldn’t he have said something more strong to at least show, if not intend, that the ICC was concerned by the developments and that they would take up the matter on a priority basis? The ICC chief’s utterances suggest that he either did not have much belief in the expose of the Delhi Police, or that he lacked the acumen to judge the gravity of the issue.

Mr Dalmiya was quoted as saying, “we will cross the bridge when we come to it” in reaction to the bombshell at Delhi. The sad fact is that the bridge has long passed, but the ICC has not shown — or chose not to show — the necessary vision to see the bridge.

Indeed, there is now an increasing belief that there are men within the apex body who are also part of the whole racket. Manoj Prabhakar has said so categorically. A statement that is backed by the Mumbai Police.

If the BCCI and the ICC are really serious in nailing the culprits and putting an end to the entire drama, they need not look beyond the Mumbai Police force. It is learnt that way back in 1996, the Mumbai Police was willing to expose the nexus between cricketers and the bookies. But the issue was apparently put into cold storage because the BCCI did not want negative publicity that would damage its credibility in the eyes of the world, thereby jeopardising its chances of co-hosting the World Cup.

The issue was conveniently swept under the carpet. True, the BCCI appointed Justice YV Chandrachud to go into the match-fixing and betting scandal. But one always got the feeling that nothing would come out of the whole exercise. This is said with the conviction of having appeared before the retired Chief Justice during the probe. Had the BCCI intended to nail the culprits, one stroke from the Mumbai Police would have done more damage than all the evidence the commission gathered from summoning cricketers, journalists and umpires from across the country. The evidence in the form of taped phone conversation between cricketers and bookies, the nexus between the players and the underworld is all there with the Mumbai Police.

Sources in the Mumbai Police told this writer that match-fixing continues to be rampant, and that includes the recent One-Day Internationals of the Coco-Cola series in Sharjah.

Why is the government reluctant in asking the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to go into whole racket that is tarnishing the image of the nation? If a cricketer declares a minmdboggling Rs 16 crore under the Voluntary Disclosure Income Scheme (VDIS), is it not sufficient ground for the revenue authorities to probe its source ?

It hurts and hurts badly when you see cricketers of suspect national interests hero-worshipped, while the true heroes die unsung defending the country. The real heroes get peanuts for sacrificing their lives, while players rake in zillions — some for sacrificing the honour of their Motherland.