Match and Spot-Fixing - a Great Cricket Scandal!

The ICC was furious at its failure to secure a ban against Darren Stevens for failing to report two corrupt approaches and against the others involved in the Bangladesh fixing scandal, believing they had them all 'bang to rights' and that they escaped punishment on a technicality. They appealed the decisions last July.

After six months silence, according to Legside Lizzie, moonlighting from her Daily Mirror gig and writing in The Independent, Stevens and his fellow suspects are finally due back in court, when the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will reopen the case in an appeal hearing in Laussane.

The one consolation for Stevens is that if he is banned (and the ICC apparently remains convinced that their case is watertight),the affair has now dragged on for two years, so that given he's 39 years old at the start of next season, he's not going to lose many playing days.

Although presumably a ban would also apply to any plans he has for a coaching/umpiring career?


www.independent.co.uk/sport/cricket/matchfixing-case-set-to-go-to-appeal-court-10000671.html

Apart from a cute sound-bite, what does that tell us about the ICC approach to corruption? Does it suggest that Sir Ronnie Flanagan, the Red Hand of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, has a clue about the scope and complexity  of the sophisticated machinations of cricket bookmakers? It even sounds a little patronising about the cricketers in its analogy with the "innocence" of young children, unused to the corrupt ways of the adult world.

Above all, does it offer any evidence in support of his assurance that "the paying public that they will be coming to a tournament where all of those involved will ensure it will be free from corruption or threat of corruption."? The whole thing comes across as a sententious homily, well-meant, forthright in delivery, but lacking in substance.

Meanwhile Sir Ronnie continued his patronage with a very heavy-handed explanation of his decision to allow Mohammad Ameer to return to domestic cricket following his conviction and penalties. Rather than a clear, rational statement of the legal principles he adhered to, he chose to describe it as a kind of tortuous, agonised conscience issue "So the consideration that I gave in relation to Amir, and it’s my discretion so I stand by it and take responsibility for it, was after a very rigorous examination of the entire case, very thorough consideration of his personal reaction – did he plead guilty?". It very much reads as if Sir Ronnie was the one on trial defending himself and asserting his right to continue his path as a law-abiding (henceforward) citizen.

Very interesting project - I wish you well. I've just completed your survey.

I rather think the mark is there already, but not everyone can see how dirty or how extensive it is. That was certainly the experience we had last year at Sussex when the exposure of Naved Arif and Lou Vincent was made public - a big shock for fans and players and a shockwave running through the membership and fanbase of the club.

Salman Butt admits his guilt for the first time:

www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2015/02/19/sports/former-pakistan-captain-salman-butt-admits-role-in-spot-fixing-scandal-report/

So, let's say I'm an employee somewhere and I think:

"Hmm, I have my suspicions that so-and-so is up to no good here. But I can't be sure. Hmmm..."

Subsequently the person is found to have been up to no good.

"So, did you know that so-and-so was up to no good?"

"Well, no, I didn't know, but I had my suspicions."

"Right. We will make sure you never ever work in this profession again. You are finished."

How can this be right?

Surely a measured response would be:

"OK. But, please, if you do suspect anything in the future, even if you're not sure, don't be afraid to come and tell us."

The "two years of hell" sounds like an object lesson applied by the ICC ACU to serve as a warning to all others. As the Comments to the Cricinfo article you've quoted point out, there have been and are numerous "health warnings" about the BPL in particular, as well as the mandatory Code to which all professional cricketers must adhere to. I'm sure these lessons won't have been lost on Zaidi, who has been playing in that league this winter.