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Drastic measures for drastic times

It really is the best of times and the worst of times for cricket. There is no doubt that the iron couldn't get hotter for a resounding strike at the roots of match-fixing. But will the much-hyped and much-promised clean up, currently being said with a straight and serious face by all that count, ever get into second gear?

The messages, verbal and hidden, are not so clear as one would like to believe. Here is a 'news roundup' as I see it.

Ali Bacher: "We are dismayed that our honest son-of-the-soil Hansie has been implicated by the Delhi police for something which I, personally, can vouch never, ever happens in South Africa. In Asia, yes, all the time, but here? Never! Besides, Hansie himself has said it's all rubbish and we believe him. And the Indians have deceived us by tapping our players' phones which is reprehensible to say the least, and for which we demand an explanation. No, wait, Hansie has just confessed. We are dismayed! I have been deceived! South Africa has been betrayed and the board is speechless. The whole world is shattered! Naturally, Hansie must be sacked, but we believe him when he says that the four players which the Indian police have mentioned alongside him are not involved. They themselves say it's all rubbish and we believe them also."

If Bacher has left out any impressive adjective to describe his state of shock when proved wrong, he can save it for when and if Gibbs, Boje, Williams and Strydom confess from the pressure of having too much damning evidence against them. By rights, these four should have been suspended from the game pending enquiry and their exoneration. After all, when Cronje talked of Gibbs making less than 20 he wasn't referring to after-dinner jokes.

BCCI: Deafening silence for the most part.

Lele: Hopefully, he will be silenced forever and not be misquoted again.

Jagmohan Dalmiya: 'Rubbish! Please don't waste my time asking me to comment on heresay and unsubstantiated rumors. The ICC has never supported match-fixing and neither have we ever had any indication that it exists except in the imagination of certain people. What's that you say? Hansie has confessed? Hurrumph, well then, to repeat what Bacher and the rest are saying, I am dismayed and shocked! I know the ECB and ACB got there before me but nevertheless, I declare a clean-up is needed and this will not be tolerated. This is a black day for cricket, I know because I just read it in one of the newspapers.'

Am I mistaken or does it seem that Dalmiya observes carefully which way the tide is flowing and then manoeuvres his own dingy to go with the flow. His face looks even more confused and dejected than Cronje's. He's clearly out of his depth as chief honcho, and I for one do not expect him to do more than make ineffectual noises when he has to. It would be great to have him say firmly that, for a start, he would like to ensure a) countries who flout the rules and play more one-day matches than specified by the ICC be fined heavily b) Any proof of a players involvement with a bookie will be enough to ban him for life c) An independent body be set up to monitor match-fixing. This body will have full autonomy to follow leads and can ask for local police help in tapping the phones of any player suspected.

Of course players will object, but if they don't like it, then they can lump it. Drastic measures for drastic times. We all want to see a clean game once more, and make no mistake, it can be done if the will is there. And along with that will, the ability to act promptly and intelligently.

Will this episode be the alpha for returning cricket to it's original pristine form and the omega of waffling officialdom? We wait with baited breath…

Sujata Prakash