It's time to bring back respectability in Indian Cricket

Respect must be regained

Among the various ongoing or upcoming sporting events, like World Badminton Championship, The Ashes, recently concluded Junior Women’s Hockey World Cup, and also the proposed IBL, sports pages have got a variety of sporting news to report on. But one can hardly afford to miss the important news covering the alleged misdeeds which the BCCI have been fully involved in.

In this sequence, there are two very important news items appearing in every almost every platform covering sports. The first one is really heartening news. Our central minister for sports and youth affairs Jitender Singh has stated that there will be a law against all illegal sporting activities. He said that the central government is taking steps to introduce a new law to deal with all illegal activities in the field of sports. He has informed the public that the ministry of law has prepared a draft legislature and the opinion of the ministry of sports and youth affairs has been taken.

Jitender, further explained that a lot of detailed consultation on various related issues is still required to be discussed among the different ministries; therefore a set time-frame cannot be given before this proposed law is finalized. Meanwhile, various existing agencies which are already functional, are taking steps to curb illegal activities under the provisions available. The minister, though, did not comment on whether the government is going to ban the IPL owing to the match fixing! scandal.

Another important, but related news is that the BCCI have approached the honourable Supreme Court against the judgement given by honourable Bombay High Court that the two member committee set up by the BCCI was illegal and unconstitutional. The Bombay High Court had earlier ordered BCCI to conduct the enquiry afresh, while disposing off the PIL filed by the Bihar Cricket Association.

It is pertinent to add that only yesterday, there was a statement issued by Rahul Dravid that it is the utmost necessity to maintain the credibility of cricket. Dravid emphasized that due to spot fixing and betting, the respect and regard of the fans can be reduced and if this happens, it will be very painful for the game of cricket in this country. Veteran cricketer Erapalli Prasanna and ex-cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar have also supported Rahul Dravid on this burning issue.

As far as the ordinary fans of the game are concerned, all they want is a clean game and would like to restore the glory, prestige, and gentlemanliness traditionally associated with cricket.