Yossarian
Test Debutant
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2007
- Runs
- 13,897
- Post of the Week
- 1
Generation after generation, Pakistan cricket cannot seem to shed the curse of fixing. From Salim & co, to the Trio, to now Sharjeel, the pattern is the same - no matter what the penalty imposed, neither life bans (Salim Malik), nor prison sentences (the Trio) appear to make any difference whatsoever.
It makes one wonder whether fixing in cricket can ever be eradicated considering that bribery and corruption within Pakistani society has reached such proportions that it's seen as the norm.
Furthermore, contrary to opinion, I don't believe this has anything to do with education, or the lack of it. Neither Salim Malik nor Salman Butt were uneducated.
Think about it. In society at large, there's not much point in bribing those at the bottom of society, since there's not much that they could offer in return. Similarly, they don't have the financial means to indulge in any meaningful acts of bribery and corruption.
Bribery and corruption are the domain of the wealthy middle and upper classes. Not only do they have the means, but they also have more to gain by giving/taking bribes and indulging in corrupt practices.
Similarly, bribery in cricket is the the domain of those at the top of the cricket pyramid. There's not much to gain by bribing some local club player playing in a local league club match. Consider that in contrast to the many $millions that could be made by getting a top international player to fix just a few deliveries in a big, internationally televised match.
Sad to say, but unless those at the top of Pakistani society, ie the wealthy and middle/professional classes, change their ways, then corruption in cricket as well as in Pakistani society at large will never be eradicated.
But why would the wealthy, middle, professional classes change their ways when they are the main beneficiaries of the current prevailing endemic corruption in Pakistan?
That's why corruption in cricket will never be too far away in a country like Pakistan.
It makes one wonder whether fixing in cricket can ever be eradicated considering that bribery and corruption within Pakistani society has reached such proportions that it's seen as the norm.
Furthermore, contrary to opinion, I don't believe this has anything to do with education, or the lack of it. Neither Salim Malik nor Salman Butt were uneducated.
Think about it. In society at large, there's not much point in bribing those at the bottom of society, since there's not much that they could offer in return. Similarly, they don't have the financial means to indulge in any meaningful acts of bribery and corruption.
Bribery and corruption are the domain of the wealthy middle and upper classes. Not only do they have the means, but they also have more to gain by giving/taking bribes and indulging in corrupt practices.
Similarly, bribery in cricket is the the domain of those at the top of the cricket pyramid. There's not much to gain by bribing some local club player playing in a local league club match. Consider that in contrast to the many $millions that could be made by getting a top international player to fix just a few deliveries in a big, internationally televised match.
Sad to say, but unless those at the top of Pakistani society, ie the wealthy and middle/professional classes, change their ways, then corruption in cricket as well as in Pakistani society at large will never be eradicated.
But why would the wealthy, middle, professional classes change their ways when they are the main beneficiaries of the current prevailing endemic corruption in Pakistan?

That's why corruption in cricket will never be too far away in a country like Pakistan.
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