#TFGtake: With BCCI's credibility at an all-time low, need for quick action on Dhoni fixing claims
AS THE INDIAN CRICKET TEAM prepares to take on the visiting Sri Lankans in the three-match T20 series starting tomorrow, an allegation of match-fixing has surfaced, and this time it is directly aimed at none other thn India's most successful captain, MS Dhoni himself.
Late in the evening yesterday, former Indian team manager and the current DDCA secretary, Sunil Dev accused India’s limited overs skipper of fixing the 2014 Manchester Test in England.
Dev, who was the team manager during the Test series claimed that he was a "100 percent sure" that Dhoni fixed the fourth Test in Old Trafford. The former manager was heard making these revelations in a sting operation conducted by a Hindi daily newspaper.
As the story and allegation gained momentum, Dev in a remarkable turn of events quickly denied any such allegations on the skipper. As reported by TOI, Dev said,
"It is all rubbish. I am planning to sue this Hindi daily and will seek legal recourse against anyone else who makes such malicious claims."
Dev had also stated earlier that he feared for his life upon such claims and knew that cricket fans will be reluctant to believe any such untoward incident.
But be that as it may, whether or not there is any further truth to the story, one wonders why the BCCI and Dhoni are quiet on the whole saga?
If Dev’s claims are to be believed that he informed the BCCI about the matter, and even if the Indian board did not take any action then, it is necessary for the board to react quickly now, rather than allow these allegations gain strength.
Cricket, and especially BCCI, has been under attack with all kinds of controversies related to fixing. While the game has survived many such attacks, the credibility of BCCI and players is very fragile at this moment. For media organisations, in an attempt to gain quick attention, these kind of sting operations come in handy. And there is no easier target than cricket. With a willing administrator ready to mouth such allegations, this will not be the last such operation that we will see.
In such a scenario, it is of prime importance that BCCI reacts quickly and is, at the least, perceived to take cognizance of such allegations and act, eiother against the accused or the accuser. The game of cricket and fixing are not strangers to each other. Even today, the sport is marred and constantly threatened by the dangers of spot and match fixing. Moreover, the inability to bring the guilty to limelight from the Anti Corruption Unit (ACU) has further tarnished the sport's credibility.
Sure, the Justice Mukul Mudgal rubbished all the claims by saying he had no idea of any such activity, but it’s the duty of
the concerned authorities to respond and clear the air at the earliest.
BCCI’s silence is further creating more doubts and worries in the mind of us cricket fans. With accusations running thick and fast, the concerned authorities will do well to come out in the open and clarify the matter. Dhoni, who has a massive fan following in our country, needs to realize his reponsibility towards his ardent fans and deny such allegations with conviction before more rumors start doing the rounds.
As cricket fans, we are waiting for the BCCI to come out with their explanation at the earliest and, if need be, they should carry out a proper investigation and take Sunil Dev to task for spreading misinformation, in order to deter others from behaving irresponsibily.
The Mudgal committee and the Lodha report seems to have put some emblance of order in the workings of the BCCI after the Indian Premier League spot-fixing and betting scandal. However, there has been no information about 13 names which were given by the committee in a sealed envelope to the Supreme Court. The names have not been named public and it remains a mystery. There is enough dirt still to be cleared and Dev's allegation only piles on some more.
With the T20 World Cup and the IPL -- which anyways has gained a reputuation of fostering corrupt activities like fixing and betting -- round the corner, it thus becomes even more important for the BCCI to step forard and set the record straight.
