Over the line

Investigations launched into crickets latest scandal centre on the now familiar ploy of spot fixing. A lot of betting takes place not on the actual result of the match that is,match-fixing but on what may transpire at a particular point in the match or how an individual cricketer may perform. So,the allegation is that in the Lords Test against England last week two Pakistani bowlers overstepped the line to bowl no-balls at pre-determined moments. A British newspaper claims to have obtained information in advance from a middleman,upon payment of 150,000 pounds,of three no-balls.

Spot or match-fixing scams are not new to cricket and just this summer grave charges have been levelled in county cricket. Ever since Hansie Cronje admitted to involvement a decade ago,not much progress has been made on cleansing the game despite investigations and new playing protocols by the ICC and various cricket boards. Therefore,all kinds of inferences are drawn when certain players are dropped by selectors,and this especially continues to be the way of it in the Pakistani squad. With The News of the World story bringing the issue centrestage,cricket administrators will have to be far more transparent and focused than they have been.

For Pakistan,the scandal could not have come at a more critical juncture. For security reasons,Pakistani cricketers cant host matches at home. This summer,the Marylebone Cricket Club hosted Pakistans Tests against Australia,calling it the Spirit of Cricket Test series. It was good for the game because the play along with that in Pakistans matches against England and Indias versus Sri Lanka revived the Test format. But it mattered because cricket is a small club,and to remain competitive and attractive,it needs all Test-playing nations to collaborate to keep the action keen and honest.