The Supreme Court’s latest admonishment in the IPL spot and match-fixing/betting scandals should prod the cricket board into belated action, in thoroughly probing allegations against a dozen players and president-in-exile N. Srinivasan. Having spent over a year dilly-dallying, besides stage-managing a probe that peremptorily cleared all those accused of crimes against the sport’s image, a litigious board has painted itself into a corner. Cricket lovers can, however, take heart that the nation’s highest court seems determined to shame the BCCI into proper action.
Neither its elected chief, who seems more interested in self-laudatory defence of himself, nor skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who made a facetious comment about a “laundry” helping clean the sport, appear seized of the seriousness of the matter. A dozen cricketers are accused of indulging in betting and/or fixing, and the top man, who is a bundle of contradictions regarding conflicts of interest, is named in an inquiry report, with a dozen charges mentioned against his name. Things would not have come to such a pass had the board showed the least inclination to cleanse itself.
The time to act was about a year ago, when news of the spot and match-fixing scandal first broke and three players were arrested by the police and the board chief’s son-in-law was charged with betting on games, both for and against his father-in-law’s cement firm’s team. An independent probe to establish the truth was called for. But what did the BCCI do, but let its high-priced lawyers swing into action and deny that anything had ever taken place? Cricket had already paid a high price for earlier betting and fixing scandals, but this one involving the cash-rich IPL was by far the most insidious, as corruption appears to have taken over the game, and even some of its multi-millionaire players.
The court, quite considerately, has not ordered an SIT or CBI probe against the players, lest mud be slung on them indiscriminately. The least the BCCI can do is to propose a proper panel, that could include a respected and retired Chief Justice of India, a retired CBI chief and an eminent lawyer to bring in expertise of the right kind to uncover the truth and re-establish the game’s fair name. The charges against Mr Srinivasan must be probed thoroughly too, even if it is believed he is above board in financial matters and may have no link with the betting his relative had foolishly resorted to. Mr Srinivasan’s failing was always more on the moral count, and the BCCI can now make amends by proposing such a probe panel that can evoke judicial and public trust. This may be the last chance for Indian cricket, and it should not be a lost opportunity.
