IPL 6 spot-fixing scandal: The sanctity of sport and the need to protect it

Hours after the two bombs exploded at the Boston marathon, killing three and injuring several others, low quality images of two youngsters were flashed across TV screens around the world as an entire nation went in hunt of the duo, reportedly Islamic extremists of Russian origin. One was killed in pursuit while the other was held hours before charges amounting to ‘war against the nation’ were brought against him.

Days ago, in an almost humorous turn of events, the Russian security personnel detained American diplomat Ryan Fogle who was accused of trying to recruit an agent from the Russian special service for spying purposes, shoving him to the ground and allegedly ripping a dirty blonde wig off of his head. The state of Russia condemned the US for a severe breach of trust even as Fogle was declared “persona non grata” and expelled from the country.

And all of this happened against a backdrop of the US and Russia imposing severe economic and military sanctions against Iran, denying its people basic medical access among many things, in view of the latter’s nuclear ambitions. Across the borders in Syria, however, Iran and Russia had joined hands in arming the ‘regime’ even as the US was mulling on the best possible options to back the opposition in the now bloody civil war.

Clearly, these were three nations which were the unlikeliest of allies; nations that openly despised each other and had few, if any grounds to agree upon. And yet, the Grand Central Terminal at New York on the Wednesday afternoon saw a coming together of these three countries in a common cause. As the best wrestlers from each of these nations tried to maul each other onto the padded floor, there was no hatred, no difference of opinion. The war in Syria, the bombs in Boston, the ‘blonde’ spies, none of that mattered. These were nations with a single cause – keeping wrestling in the Olympics. Amidst all the blood and distrust, it was a celebration of sport.

Such is the nature of sport. Such is its power; to call for truce in the bloodiest of times, to create trust where none exists. This is perhaps why it has always occupied a significant position in the grand scheme of things, for it stands for the very best in human nature, for camaraderie, for mutual respect and for trust.

Elsewhere in India, in the early hours of Thursday, as Delhi police arrested three Indian cricketers on charges of spot-fixing, it was an act which dismantled the very foundation of trust that the whole idea of sport is based on. A breach of the unspoken contract in which the fan agrees to invest every bit of his passion and emotion into the game and the player on his part gives his very best on the field. It was an act which made our reluctant selves question the very core of a tournament that we had all come to love over the past few years, an act which scarred the credibility of sport, forever. A phenomenon which held the power to bring bickering nations together was itself left helpless and vulnerable.

We had learnt of course, not to confuse champions with heroes. We knew that the men whose posters were scotch taped to our bedroom walls were not necessarily role models leading exemplary lives. We were aware that beyond the boundary, they were ordinary men, prone to desire and lust as any other. Outside of a sporting arena, they seemed less impressive, their skills seemingly diminished, their bodies, sweat now dried, more ordinary.

Tiger Woods taught us that when he failed to remain faithful to his wife, Boris Becker taught us that when he had a tryst with a model on a restaurant stairs. We grudgingly acknowledged that the sportsmen must be held to no higher moral standards than the rest of us are. Yet, the one thing that gave the sport its sanctity was the faith that a sportsman would not cheat the fan, that he would keep his side of the deal.

It is perhaps due to this assumption that when Sreesanth did the impossible and handed the Australians moral high ground with his on-field antics, we found it in us to forgive him. When Gilchrist suggested that his son was more mature than the fast bowler, we laughed it away as a simple flaw in his personality. We pretended to turn a blind eye when he broke into dance in a Test match after hitting a six, and when he created a scene in IPL, crying uncontrollably, holding his visibly swollen cheek, we tuned in to a different channel. And yet, as the details of the spot-fixing scandal come out, we cannot find it in us to forgive the cricketers. Perhaps we shouldn’t, for if we do, what is left of the sport?

To suggest that the scandal has not affected the credibility of the tournament would be a plain lie. To believe that it was a one-off incident with no influence on how the tournament has panned out would be rather naive. This is an incident that has left the IPL resembling a reality show more than a sporting tournament and the only sensible step is to acknowledge it and find ways to deal with it. It’s an incident which has left us wondering why we trust the sport at all. This is a kind of issue which disgusts the fan and rightly so.

So will it kill the IPL? Certainly not. The players will be banned, bookies jailed. The BCCI will give an impression of having dealt with it strongly. When another scandal erupts elsewhere, the media will turn away, days will pass and before we know, we will be cheering for Gayle to hit out of the park again. The show will continue, but the sport would have died.

Any possible solution to the real problem of trust involves both the parties, the players and the administration. It is impossible of course to police every financial transaction in the sporting world, as it is in any other field, but the least we can expect is financial transparency, a model which is more open with its numbers. As long as there are statements with the phrase ‘undisclosed amounts’ involved in the dealings of the IPL, and people in powerful administrative powers continue to hold personal assets in the league, it remains an impossible task to trust the functioning of the league. Every time the BCCI refuses to come under the RTI, it makes us question their motives.

It is about time the sport’s most powerful administrative body showed some intention of protecting the sanctity of sport. The fans deserve as much. Cricket deserves as much.

As for the players themselves, they will do well to remember Rahul Dravid‘s words from his wonderful speech at the Bradman Oration:

“Disrespecting fans is disrespecting the game. The fans have stood by our game through everything. When we play, we need to think of them. As players, the balance between competitiveness and fairness can be tough but it must be found.

If we stand up for the game’s basic decencies, it will be far easier to tackle its bigger dangers – whether it is ?nding short cuts to easy money or being lured by the scourge of spot-?xing and contemplating any involvement with the betting industry.

Cricket’s ?nancial success means it will face threats from outside the game and keep facing them. The last two decades have proved this over and over again. The internet and modern technology may just end up being a step ahead of every anti-corruption regulation in place in the game. As players, the one way we can stay ahead for the game, is if we are willing to be monitored and regulated closely.

Even if it means giving up a little bit of freedom of movement and privacy.     

Players should be ready to give up a little personal space and personal comfort for this game which has given us so much. If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear.’”