Gavaskar on how to educate players regarding match-fixing
With an influx of T20 leagues in cricket, a huge amount of money is flowing into the sport. However, it's still not enough as bookies and match-fixers are trying to make merry out of it, involving more money, and influencing players to do so by unfair means. Meanwhile, legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar explains how to educate players regarding match-fixing and its repercussions.
Gavaskar opined that it is the greediness that drives a player to become corrupt and there is no way to fight it. He also felt that it's human nature and no guidance or anti-corruption would help someone overcome it. "Could be some other reason that might force him to do something. That's something I don't think you can totally control," said Gavaskar in Bengaluru.
"I would imagine sometimes the circumstances make a player think 'I can get away with it'. But, you can't get away. Because it is so covered by television, every little aspect... you will be exposed as having done something wrong," warned Gavaskar.
The Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL), a franchise-based T20 league of the state of Tamil Nadu, is under the scanner of the BCCI of late, following reports of certain players being contacted by bookies. The issue has taken center stage due to alleged involvement of an Indian player, an IPL regular, along with a coach of a Ranji team, as the ACU is investigating.
Speaking further on the issue, Gavaskar said that people can be educated regarding the repercussions one can face for being corrupt. However, he warned that greed is something which is difficult to control. "But, like I said, greed is something nobody knows. Somebody comes from a very poor background and suddenly sees a lot of money, then you could be swayed," added Gavaskar.
On the possibility of a better pay keeping the player away from such malpractices, Gavaskar said that remuneration should only be limited to a player's skill set, while paying one out of the proportion is completely baseless. "But again, it depends on the term that is used, 'market forces'. So, you can't do much. Sometimes, you are lucky, the market is good," opined Gavaskar.
"But, at the end of the day, even the guy getting the most amount of money can be tempted to do something. How does one stop that? That's human nature and you cannot predict human nature. So, it's difficult," concluded Gavaskar.
Gavaskar indeed has some valid points regarding greed, and the author firmly stands by his claims that it is certainly difficult to control it, as human nature is unpredictable. Nonetheless, the author also believes that if the person thinks and acts responsibly, it is possible to control greed. While circumstances play a big role in such cases, the repercussions should itself be a warning.
