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KRN column argues against assuming cricket losses due to match fixing
1. K.R. Nayar column: Stop assuming top cricket teams
lose due to match fixing
On myreturn to Dubai afterreportingthe ChampionsTrophyfinal,manyfansaskedme whetherthe
final wasfixed.
Some wonderedwhetherIndia’stopplayershadacceptedmoneyfrom bookiestoperformpoorly!
Questionslikethese are usuallybornoutof disappointmentwhentheirheroesfail todeliver.
A fewjustcouldn’tsuppresstheirfrustrationbecauseIndialosttoPakistan,ateamthat Indiahad
dominatedinInternational CricketCouncil tournaments.
On Sunday,RamdasAthawale,India’sUnionMinisterof State forSocial Justice andEmpowerment,went
on to commentthatthe final wasfixed,andalsopickedoutViratKohli andYuvraj Singhforhaving
deliberatelyunderperformed’.
It was a statementmade outof sheerignorance of the game as well assome cheappublicity.
It isunbelievablehowpeople occupyingresponsiblepositionsmake suchirresponsiblestatements.
Incidentsof matchfixingaswell asspotfixinghave happenedin the past;butthat doesn’tmean
wheneveraformidable teamloses,itisconsideredasa fixedmatch.
For Indiaand Pakistancricketers,toreturnhome afterlosingtoeachother,especiallyinafinal,can
hauntthemfor years.
But makingblatantstatementslikewhatthe Indianministerdidwithoutanyproof againstthe players
shouldbe condemned,andthe Ministryof YouthandSports shouldtake actionagainstAthawale.
Hosts Englandwere the favouritestowinthe ChampionsTrophybutnobodyaccusedthemof
underperformingtolose the semi-final toPakistan.
It’stime people enjoyedcricketwithoutthe sole objective of theirteamwinningthe contest.
It isclear that those whonowaccuse the Indianplayersof underperformingdidnotobserve the beauty
of PakistanpacerMohammadAmir’sswingbowling.Itwashissplendidspell thatdestroyedIndia.
Indialostto an inexperiencedWestIndiesteaminAntiguaonSunday.Thishasonce againprovedthat
howeverweakasquadmay seemonpaper,if theirplayersplay asa unit,any opponentcanbe
defeated.
That is whatPakistandidtoIndiain the ChampionsTrophy.
Additionally,aslongas the Indiancricketboardcontinuestoact in an unprofessionalmannerby
venturingtoplaya serieswithoutacoach,such defeats will notbe asurprise.Itwaswrong to expecta
captainto playall roles,includingthatof a coach, assumingthatthe WestIndiesisa weakteam.A team
made up of superstarsdoesnotensure a victoryalways.Itisthislack of teamworkand coordination
that temptspeople toaccuse playersof throwingmatches.