Now cricket’s match-fixing saga gets even more sinister with former Proteas cricket captain Clive Rice calling on investigators to re-examine the deaths of Bob Woolmer and Hansie Cronje, according to the Thaindian website.
It is quite strange that Rice, in his wisdom, decides to make these comments only now. But Rice just as he was fiercely competitive on the cricket field, has always been known not to shy away from saying what he wants to say.
According to the website, Rice said that he feared Mafia-style betting syndicates might have murdered his close friend, Woolmer, and Cronje.
Former Proteas and Pakistan coach, Woolmer, was found dead in a hotel room in Jamaica in 2007 on the morning after his team lost to Ireland at the World Cup in the Carribean. Woolmer was reportedly furious following the match,and, according to conspiracy theories, might have been murdered to prevent him publicising Pakistan’s alleged match-fixing.
Cronje, who was banned for life for his role in a 2000 match-fixing scandal, died in a plane crash near George, South Africa in 2002. According to the website, Rice said he feared the plane’s equipment might have been tampered with on the orders of a Mafia-like syndicate. He said: “I am convinced his death wasn’t an accident.”
Both tragedies did come as a huge shock at the time, and hopefully the investigators are fully satisfied that the probe/post-mortems into the deaths of Cronje and Woolmer were dealt with to its full extent. Such conspiracy theories now only serve to murky cricket’s waters further, and together with the latest match-fixing scandal, are not winning fans to the game in a hurry.
The question still remains as to why the ICC seems to be moving backwards in dealing with the problem once and for all. However, one thinks that the ICC’s patience will be wearing thin and sooner rather than later, someone is going to be made an example of – if found guilty.
Rice’s theory also might instil fear into those cricketers who just want to play the game and earn their living, as there is so much for the players to focus on already.
Now former Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson has apparently told Fox Sports that match-fixing “might not be about money, it might be about extortion and all the things that go on”.
Match-fixing, we are now made to believe, as has been pointed out by columnists on this forum could be going on for quite a long time. Hansie was probably the first big name to be hauled before a commission and found guilty. We also know that Hansie is not the only one.
A famous Aussie pair received a rap over the knuckles some years ago (94/95) for apparently giving pitch and weather information to a bookie in return for money. Many critics saw the matter as having been “swept under the carpet”. The ACB had merely reported the matter to the ICC and there it seemed the matter ended.
Herschelle Gibbs was also suspended for a short period some years ago as a result of the fallout of the Cronje saga. So it’s not like match-fixing is not happening, or is just an illusion to many.
Cricketers have been found guilty in the past and the ICC cannot think it will blow away. Drastic action needs to be taken and taken urgently.
It’s actually an embarrassment to the game of cricket that we treasure so dearly.
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