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Cricket stands at the crossroads

The game is suffering at the hands of those entrusted with its protection, writes Peter Roebuck

Let me tell you why I am angry and make up your own mind about its justification. Cricket is suffering at the hands of those entrusted with its protection. Inexorably the position deteriorates and still the lame ducks refuse to quack, or else lavish praise on the spectacle before them. Some call it modernity. Others think it is madness.

Consider the latest developments. Sri Lanka's collapse in Cardiff was the product of poor preparation. Senior players lingered at the Indian Premier League. Swiping sixes at midnight is not ideal preparation for building an innings or subduing a pace attack. Imagine, too, the effect on morale.

Yet Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene are men of high calibre. Their conduct speaks not of greed, the world's blight, but disillusion. Previously they had been brushed aside by a Board oblivious to their qualities.

Youth policies

Alas, the same folly could be observed in the Caribbean as the host was held by a weakened Pakistan side. The West Indies is undergoing another of its youth policies and omitted some supposedly essential players. Caribbean coaches keep doing that — can they all be wrong? Doubtless they want to keep their jobs but still they take the risk.

Rubbing salt into the wound, India omitted several top players from its party to tour the region. Apparently they needed a rest. And why was that? Because they had taken part in IPL, a lucrative domestic competition of no consequence

South African cricket is also a mess. Far from thanking its chairman for exposing financial irregularities, CSA ditched him and managed to convince itself that an internal enquiry sufficed. Happily the High Court overturned the decision, restoring the incumbent and insisting on independent scrutiny. And still these people sit around head tables. Next the same officials decided that two Tests were enough for the coming series against Australia.

Meanwhile, Ijaz Butt still runs amok in Pakistan and the ICC dispatches Peter Chingoka, the Chairman of ZC, to offer advice on governance. And who, pray, is captaining Pakistan this week? Next the ICC bigwigs try to stop aspiring nations playing in the next World Cup. It is not a time for gaga grins.

Conflict of interest

Serious journalists try to draw attention to these iniquities but get shouted down. Journalists on paper, radio or television are not propagandists. Rather they are bound to hold power to account, or else sign up for a lifestyle magazine. We are responsible to the people not the product. Alas, conflict of interest is widespread.

A few truth tellers remain, the Desmond Tutus and Tendai Bitis of the game. Recently Arjuna Ranatunga condemned the overbearing conduct of the BCCI.

Wrap him up in silk. It came as no surprise to hear that he is a member of the opposition party in his country.

Thankfully it's not all doom and gloom. The ICC has just appointed an Indian sleuth to take charge of its anti-corruption body.

Don't underestimate these local detectives. Inspector Paul, the investigator responsible for exposing Hansie Cronje, set the benchmark.

Meanwhile, international players have condemned the lenient sentences given to the banned Pakistan players. Clearly they care.

Now news arrives that Australia is introducing 10-year jail sentence for anyone convicted of match fixing. It's another step in the right direction. Cricket stands at the crossroads.

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