Law ‘needed to curb cricket match fixing’
India’s super cop blames rise of T20 leagues for corruption
The Indian Penal Code (IPC) needs to have a law soon to book those trying to influence the results of cricket matches, according to the country’s super cop Neeraj Kumar.
The former commissioner of Delhi Police, who cracked landmark match-fixing cases like the one involving former South African captain Hansie Cronje or players’ arrests in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2013, told Gulf News by phone that the absence of a law criminalising the activity is a major deterrent in tackling corruption in the game in India.
While blaming the rash of T20 leagues behind growing corruption, Kumar said cricketers who have “grown up in a corruption-free system are less vulnerable” to fall prey to such allure. “In India, the malpractice in cricket starts early when at the club or district levels, children’s parents are often made to pay for selection,” he said.
Bangladesh yesterday put up a spirited performance to set-up a title clash with India in the Asia Cup tomorrow after beating Pakistan by 37 runs in the virtual semifinal clash at the Shaikh Zayed Cricket Stadium.
Mustafizur Rahman was the pick of the Bangladeshi bowlers with exceptional figures of 4 for 43 from his 10 overs.
There were wild celebrations amongst the Bangladeshi fans as Pakistan made heavy of the modest total of 240 for victory.
Opener Imam Ul Haq came up with a fighting 83 off 105 balls but that went in vain as wickets kept falling around him.
Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam and skipper Ahmad Shahzad were all sent packing and Pakistan were reduced to 18 for 3 at one stage. Rubel Hossain got rid of Zaman off the bowling of Mehidy Hasan Mirza, while Azam and Shahzad both fell victim to Muztafizur — leg before and caught behind respectively.
Imam and Shoaib Malik then tried to pull the team out of troubled waters with a partnership of 67 for the fourth wicket. However, once Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza led by example in the field with a brilliant one-handed catch at mid-wicket to get rid of Malik, Pakistan were again staring down the barrel.
With Shadab Khan’s frustrating 24-ball stay for four runs ended, Pakistan were 95 for 5 in 25.1 overs with Imam fighting a lone battle. Liton Das, standing in for injured stumper Mushfiqur Rahim, then dropped a straight forward catch from Asif Ali while the latter was on 22.
That didn’t hurt much as he could only add 11 more to the total. However, with a well set Imam getting out for 83, it was certain that Pakistan would fall short of the target.
Earlier, a four-wicket haul by Junaid Khan allowed Pakistan to restrict Bangladesh to 239 all out in 48.5 overs despite a fighting 99 by Mushfiqur Rahim.
Bangladesh were also in a similar situation after being reduced to 12 for 3. However, unlike Pakistan, they recovered well with Mushfiqur and Mohammad Mithun (60) putting on a partnership of 144 runs for the fourth wicket.
With that crucial partnership ending, Bangladesh again lost their way and couldn’t play out their full quota of overs.
Apart from Junaid’s 4 for 19 in nine overs, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Hasan Ali claimed two wickets apiece while leg spinner Shadab also managed a wicket against his name.
Pakistan left-arm Junaid, who came in place of a struggling Mohammed Amir, was straightaway effective. Soumya Sarkar, who came in place of Nazmul Hossain Shanto failed to negotiate a short pitch delivery from Junaid and it was a simple catch for Fakhar Zaman at square-leg. Shaheen Afridi was also quickly amongst wicket, getting Mominul Haque bowled with a delivery that nipped back sharply. With Junaid then getting one to slip through the defenses of Das, Bangladesh were reeling at 12 for 3.
Mashfiqur Rahim and Mohammad Mithun then resurrected the Bangladesh innings with caution yet aggressive batting; pouncing on to anything loose. With the Pakistan spinners Shadab and Mohammed Nawaz once again ineffective with the ball in their first spell, Mashfiqur and Mithun kept growing in confidence. Mashfiqur reached his 30th ODI fifty in 68 deliveries.
Mithun also followed suit with this second ODI fifty but he fell as soon as the pacers were back in operation.