Govt decision could change the scenario
Predictably enough, the much hyped meeting called by the Union Sports Minister SS Dhindsa on Thursday failed to tackle the match fixing problem head on
Partab Ramchand
28-Apr-2000
Predictably enough, the much hyped meeting called by the Union
Sports Minister SS Dhindsa on Thursday failed to tackle the
match fixing problem head on. The government seemed to play
carefully forward with bat-pad close together. And though there
were hints that the government would hand over the inquiry to the
CBI, there were more sceptics than believers. So when Dhindsa
announced in the Lok Sabha on Friday that it had ordered the
Central Bureau of Investigation to probe the vexed issue, it
did come as a surprise. Clearly, the government means business.
Though no time frame has been set for the investigation to
be completed, the decision to hand over the problem to the CBI
means that the government has certainly followed up on its
promise ``to get to the bottom of the truth.'' Also indicative
of this approach is Dhindsa's announcement that cases registered
by the New Delhi police against former South African captain
Hansie Cronje would be pursued to their logical conclusion.
Following the unprecedented meeting Dhindsa held with leading
Indian players and officials, the Minister had told a media
conference that the government would announce the course of
action in Parliament in the next few days. ``We will first
decide the mode of the probe. We will conduct the inquiry
through any agency. Handing it over to the CBI is one
option,'' he said.
Throughout the media conference, Dhindsa while making a few
valid points, seemed to hedge over others. There were the
usual platitudes: ``I am satisfied with the meeting. Those who
attended have given very valuable and constructive suggestions.
The government is committed to bring out the truth.''
On Friday, Dhindsa's tone was very different. ``The government
has decided to hand over the matter to the CBI to make an
appropriate enquiry and take necessary action. This is in
keeping with the sentiments expressed by members of Parliament
and the sensitivity of the case and the complexities involved.
Those guilty will be punished. Those who are innocent will not
be slandered. Those who have evidence must co-operate with the
probe and shall be given adequate protection. Those who make
ill founded allegations must be exposed.''
Tough talk this. And if action indeed follows these strong words
then we may be in for some momentous happenings. But then these
are early days yet. Given the experience of other probes, it is
easy to be sceptical. However the CBI is expected to approach
the problem in a businesslike manner. And there is no denying the
fact that the general mood is that everyone - the government,
players, officials, the public - wants this controversial issue
solved soon. At least that just about summed up the sentiments expressed at Thursday's meeting.
Among those who attended were ICC president Jagmohan Dalmiya,
BCCI president AC Muthiah, BCCI secretary JY Lele, former BCCI presidents NKP Salve, Raj Singh Dungarpur, IS Bindra and Madhavrao Scindia, Test cricketers turned MP's Chetan Chauhan and Kirti Azad, BCCI vice president and Union Minister Manohar Joshi, former captains Kapil Dev, MAK Pataudi, Sunil Gavaskar, Bishen Bedi, Sachin Tendulkar and Mohd Azharuddin and former Indian coaches
Madan Lal and Anshuman Gaekwad. All of them also spoke about
various improvements that needed to be made towards the betterment
of Indian cricket - one of the reasons why the meeting was called.
But of course of much more importance were the deliberations
that related to the burning topic of the day.
Indicative of the mood were the utterances of Bindra and Dalmiya
who have been hurling charges at each other recently. Dalmiya
backed any form of inquiry the government would launch into the
match fixing allegations but called for a specific time frame.
``I am delighted the government is taking an active interest in
this matter. We will co-operate fully with the investigations.''
Bindra went one step further. ``A government probe is different
from what the BCCI carried our three years ago.'' he said. ``I
will be the first to help them in any way possible. If it is
names they want, they will get names.'' In any event, the
government decision could certainly change the scenario in
the controversial matter.