Proven Guilty?

A week and a half into the bitterest scam to have hit Cricket, the perpetrators of the hideous crime still walk about, independent and 'not proven guilty'.

Welcome to the beautiful land of the PCB, a tainted Organization where corruption finds a new level and justice is a non-existing word. For more than a decade now, the Pakistan Cricket Board has assumed the role of a safe haven for any crime that cricketers under contract with the Board may commit. 

Personally, I adore Pakistani cricket just as much as I adore Indian cricket. Which, by the way, was no compliment. Once a crazy follower of cricket, I lost interest with every passing series after the T20 world cup, the times when players used to be just players. IPL, glamour, financial scandals, etc.. etc.. Cricket is far from a gentleman's game now.

And the PCB seems to have taken up the initiative of furthering that almost single-handedly. A player caught ball tampering in an International Test match is not even warned, forget taken action against. Instead, the player is rewarded with captaincy of the side in the next series. Justice, at its prime. And the official reason for such a 'justified' act, "Where's the proof?"

Men have to be 'Proven Guilty' to be taken action against. So basically, if you fill your bank accounts with billiions of dollars for intentionally losing a match and in the process, 'selling yourself' ; all this without any 'proof', you're a man of honour. Why? Because you're not 'proven guilty'. And even if you do give the PCB proof, they'll have a committee created, that committee will investigate the matter, make reports, do this and that and by the time the judgment comes out, the player would, at least, have ended a 'glorious' career. Pity Glory.

Gone are the days of stalwarts like Imran Khan and Abdul Quadeer where passion for the game, and to play for the nation would out-do any odds. Today, an eighteen year old, who scalps 50 test wickets in as short a career as Amir's decides to make quick money and in the process endanger a career of at least 15 years. 

Nothing is wrong with these players. It is just the lack of leadership, which is a another word Pakistani Cricket has almost done away with ever since players like Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis decided to call time on their 'glorious' careers.The other day, I was listening to Anil Kumble making this point on a TV channel, perhaps better than anyone else can.


But again, such controversies do supply humor too. Here's a joke doing the rounds these days:

A Pakistani News Channel. The News Reporter : ".. and now lets go over to the Sports news... Here are the scores of tomorrow's match and the results of next month's series... "


xD