Spot-fixing and its side-effects

The News of The World released recordings of their sting operation that attempted to uncover the recent bout of spot-fixing and on the larger picture, match-fixing.All the cricket-fans and experts were very sad at this.Cricketers,current or former, were very quick to distance themselves from this activity.The media damned this activities.The betting syndicates of England were weakened.And most importantly, the noose tightened over Pakistan cricket.3 players,Mohammed Aamer,Mohammed Asif and Salman Butt were supposed to be in the heart of these allegations.And these were not mere guesses,NOW had video tapes clearly showing these players accepting money. I feel that Pakistan is going to be what South Africa was some years ago-an isolated cricket nation.Already players are reluctant to go and play there. This has led to large amounts of revenue loss to the PCB.

Another effect of this controversy is that from now on every player,guilty or innocent,is under scanner.So,if some player is taking a huge gamble and it does not work,people brand him as a person who has taken money.

Perhaps the most disturbing effect for the game(at least financially) is that this incident has hindered the spread of cricket to other parts of the world.What will we say to the Chinese:"This is cricket,a game in which the players are ready to diminish the nation's pride just for money.

And the fact that it was uncovered in the Lord's test has emotionally weakened at least my faith in the game.If the Home of Cricket is polluted,then the game is totally polluted.

Overall,this incident has left a bad taste in the mouth.The last time this had happened,players like Sachin Tendulkar,Sourav Ganguly.Rahul Dravid,VVS Laxman and Anil Kumble had managed to salvage India's faith in the game.Hopefully,this time,players like MS Dhoni,Virender Sehwag and Harbhajan Singh will save India from suffering a cricketing depression.