IPL up in flames

The latest cricketing scandal has exposed a sad lack of moral character among seasoned players

respectively, and allege that each player knew of the others’ involvement.

BY RITAM MITRA

Cricket once again finds itself shrouded in controversy, and for the second time in as many years, it is the IPL at the centre of the crisis. Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan, all representatives of the Rajasthan Royals franchise and members of Ranji Trophy teams, were arrested on May 16 for their alleged involvement in a spot-fixing scandal that has resulted in the now customary effigy-burning, widespread streetside protests and the assurance that if found guilty, the accused will be dealt with severely. The only thing missing, as usual, is the promise of a solution.

Spot-fixing, which involves the fixing of an outcome within a match rather than fixing the result of the match itself, famously came into the spotlight in 2010, when a News of the World sting operation secretly videotaped bookmaker Mazhar Majeed promising a set of no-balls on pre-determined deliveries bowled by Pakistani quicks Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif. The following year, the duo, along with captain Salman Butt, were found guilty, and were sentenced to between 6 and 32 months in prison.

Last year, five IPL players were suspended by the BCCI for various offenses, including negotiating fees for bowling noballs in the IPL, as well as ‘loose talk and unsubstantiated bragging’.

Sreesanth, Chandila and Chavan stand accused of agreeing to concede a minimum amount of runs per over. They were alleged to have been promised between US$36,000 and $109,000 per over. While investigating leads that suggested that the Mumbai underworld was indulging in spot-fixing, Delhi police chanced upon evidence that suggested the three players were involved. After keeping the players under surveillance, the investigators waited for the right moment to pounce, arresting them at different locations. Police have filed cases under section 120b and 420 of the Indian Penal Code, relating to criminal conspiracy and cheating

The three matches in question took place on May 6, May 9 and May 15. On May 6, Chandila conceded the agreed-upon 14 runs in the second over of his spell, but failed to give the signal the bookmakers required of him – looking skywards and lifting his shirt. This meant that the bookmakers couldn’t place their bets for fear he’d back out – and they demanded a refund of the money they’d given him in advance.

On May 9, Sreesanth was told to put a towel in his trousers before the start of his second over, and spend some time placing the field and stretching so as to give the bookmakers enough notice to place heavy bets. He conceded 13 runs off his second over – one short of the agreedupon 14 runs, but bookmakers usually keep a one-run cushion in case things don’t go completely right. On the last ball of the over, Sreesanth appeared to move his hand away from a badly-timed Gilchrist straight drive.

In the final match under allegation, on May 15, Ankit Chavan was asked to give at least 13 runs off his second over. After conceding just two runs in his first over, Chavan gave the signal indicating bets were on for his second – fiddling with his wristband. He conceded 14 runs off just the first three balls of his second over – but the rest of the over went for only one run.

The problem with spot-fixing is that it is so difficult to track.

In the spot-fixing scandal of 2010, bookmaker Mazhar Majeed assured the undercover journalist that there would be no signal ahead of the pre-determined no-balls. Meanwhile, the signals in the most recent scandal were so nondescript, they could never have been considered suspicious.

It is no longer an excuse to say players are uneducated about the dangers of spot-fixing, or were forced to do so in order to make a living. It is for this reason that Sreesanth in particular, has raised the deserved ire of the public, given his status as a former Indian Test player and World Cup champion currently on an IPL contract of $400,000 for two months of cricket. It is embarrassing to now hear an

It is no longer an excuse to say players are uneducated about the dangers of spot-fixing, or were forced to do so in order to make a living interview Sreesanth gave in 2011 regarding the Pakistani spot-fixing scandal, where he says, “Even I know nothing like that is going to happen to Indian players for sure, because I think we are surely, either the way we are brought up…we are much more educated in that process”.

Clearly the education didn’t pay off for Sreesanth. His father may accuse MS Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh of conspiring against his son, but as Delhi police so eloquently put it, Dhoni didn’t put the towel in Sreesanth’s pants.

Spot-fixing cannot be put down to the fact that betting is illegal in India; there is no way to fully eradicate corruption in any major sport. For instance, the Pakistani spot-fixing scandal took place in the UK, where there are legal markets for gambling on sport.

The solution is not as simple as increasing the powers of the Anti-Corruption Unit, or putting stricter penalties in place and legalising betting. The law can only do so much to deter wouldbe cheats. The sad fact is, human greed often triumphs over good sense in people of weak character – and they’re only ever apologetic if they get caught. It is the height of irresponsibility, selfishness and stupidity for these individuals to take away from a game that has given them everything they have; yet there is very little that might have deterred them other than the fear of being caught.

As a comparison, you do not avoid stealing purely because you fear being caught – it is simply wrong.

The most haunting aspect of spot-fixing for convicted fixers must surely then be the thought of cheating hundreds of millions of followers, or having to explain to their children, either now or in future, why they are not playing cricket anymore, or why stones are being thrown at their home and photos of them are being burned by angry mobs. And it is perhaps this moral culpability that must be more focused upon in the players’ education. In the age of social media, it’s become much easier to reach the celebrity; if proven true, these allegations will change the lives of three young men forever. If found guilty, Sreesanth and his co-conspirators must be dealt with severely. But how many cases will it take to set an example?

It is the height of irresponsibility, selfishness and stupidity for these individuals to take away from a game that has given them everything they have; yet there is very little that might have deterred them other than the fear of being caught

Tendulkar bids adieu to IPL after Mumbai Indians’ success

Batting great Sachin Tendulkar bid adieu to the Indian Premier League, two days after his illustrious former India teammate Rahul Dravid, and moments after his side Mumbai Indians were crowned champions at the iconic Eden Gardens on May 27.

Tendulkar, who retired from ODIs in December last year, missed his team’s final against two-time champions Chennai Super Kings due to an injury on his left wrist he picked up while batting against Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 13.

“This is my last IPL. I had taken the decision before the start of the tournament,” said the 40-year-old Tendulkar in a matter of fact way as the TV interviewer was taken aback.

“I have waited 21 years to win the first World Cup and six years for the IPL. It has been a great and memorable journey with the team,” said Tendulkar, who got a grand sendoff as he was lifted by his team mates before the customary victory lap.

Tendulkar’s wife Anjali also joined in minutes later.

“We have to be realistic about it. I’ve played six seasons with the Mumbai Indians and I have completely enjoyed it. This was the best season for Mumbai Indians. Before this, 2010 was the best season,” he said.

Soon after, his teammates clamoured to get him in the centre while posing for group photographs.

“This is the perfect time to say thank you to my supporters and well-wishers. I cannot wait to lift the trophy,” said the little master.

Tendulkar scored 2,334 runs averaging 34.83 in 78 IPL matches. He has a strike rate of 119.81 and struck one century and 13 fifties.

“I think this is the right time to stop playing the IPL. I am 40. Got to accept it. I had decided this was my last season”.

On May 25, another Indian great Dravid had announced his retirement from the IPL after his side Rajasthan Royals went down to Mumbai Indians in the play-off. Days ago, Australian legend Adam Gilchrist also announced his decision to quit playing the tournament.

Iraq may increase oil supply to India by 30 percent:

Minister

Iraq is likely to increase oil supply to India by around 30 percent as shipments from regional rival Iran drop following sanctions from the US and European countries, a senior Iraqi minister has said in New Delhi.

“India has requested 80,000 barrels per day of additional crude oil supply. We will increase the supply depending on the availability,” Iraq’s Minister of Water Resources Mohanad Salman Alwan AlShaibani said in an interview.

Iraq recently became the second largest crude supplier to India, replacing Iran. Iraq supplies around 300,000 barrels per day (bpd), nearly 11-12 percent of the country’s total demand.

India has been seeking increased supply of crude from countries like Iraq and Saudi Arabia, as imports from Iran are becoming difficult due to Western sanctions.

India has also requested Saudi Arabia, the largest supplier of crude accounting for almost one-fifth of the country’s needs, to increase the supply by 100,000 barrels per day.

Al-Shaibani said Iraq targets to raise oil production to 2.9 million barrels per day by the end of this year from 2.6 million barrels per day recorded in April.

“With the increase in our overall production, we will increase supply to India,” Al-Shaibani said.

Iraq, which holds the world’s fifth-largest proven crude oil reserves, overtook Iran last year to become the top producer, after Saudi Arabia, in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

The minister claimed that there were huge demands for Iraqi oil and the country targets to enhance production sharply in the coming years that would help finance its development activities.

“India is one of our biggest trading partners. We share excellent relations with India and are keen to enhance trade and investment further,” he said.

Al-Shaibani said Iraq welcomed Indian investments in oil exploration, refinery as well as in other sectors.

Major public and private Indian companies are expanding their business in Iraq. Iraq’s Ambassador to India Ahmad Tahsin Berwari said Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), along with six other global firms, were recently shortlisted for development of the multibillion-dollar Nasiriya oilfield project.

Jindal SAW Ltd. has won a $198 million contract to build and operate a factory for manufacturing oil and gas pipeline in Southern Iraq.

“A lot of other Indian companies are showing interests. They are comfortable doing business in Iraq,” said Al-Shaibani.

When asked about the security concerns, the minister said in central and southern Iraq the situation has improved substantially and the government is trying to improve the situation in other parts of the country as well.

Organ transplant: Online network to connect donor, recipient

Families of patients needing an immediate organ transplant for their survival would soon find it easy to locate a potential donor with the Indian government coming up with an online network containing necessary details like the blood group and organs available for transplant.

The online network, which is being set up under National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO), would list all potential donors and recipients along with information like their blood groups and other medical details, a senior health ministry official disclosed on condition of anonymity.

“We are soon going to set up an online network under the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation. The online service will be able to connect people directly to the donor,” the official said in New Delhi. NOTTO, an autonomous body under the health ministry, would be the nodal agency coordinating all organ transplants in the country.

The official said the National Information Centre, which is the premier government organisation involved in IT applications, has been entrusted with the task of setting up the online network.

All hospitals in the country, whether private, public or district-level health centres, will be part of the network.

Harsh Jauhari, chairman in the department of renal transplant at the Sir Gangaram Hospital, said: “Hospitals as well as patients or their families can match their requirements online and as soon as the needs of a potential donor and recipient meet they can contact each other”.

Jauhari was one of the experts that advised the government on the online service.

“The names of both donors and recipients would be deleted as soon as their requirements are met,” Jauhari said.

According to Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Jagdish Prasad, NOTTO will be set up at the Safdarjung Hospital in south Delhi. “The building is ready,” he added.

Anoop Misra, chairman, Fortis Centre for Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, said: “We needed something like this very much. At least the process should be started”.

He said networks like these are already in place in the US.

“It is a doable thing and a patient-driven necessity,” said Misra.

Under NOTTO, the government will give funds to private and public hospitals to appoint a coordinator for organ transplants. Free software would also be given to all centres.

Apart from NOTTO, four regional centres would also be set up across the country.

The step was acutely felt after a kidney transplant racket was busted five years ago in which many poor people were lured and were then secretly operated upon, and their kidneys removed.

The government then brought changes in the Transplantation of Human Organs Act (THOA), 1994, specially for the benefit of patients of renal failure.

About 200,000 people are diagnosed with renal failure every year and for most, the only cure is a kidney transplant. But less than 3,000 transplants are carried out annually in India due to strictures on possible donors under the present law.

The amended act allows organ donations from a “near relative,” which it defines as spouse, son, daughter, father, mother, brother or sister. The amended law broadens the definition of “near relative” to include grandparents, grandchildren, uncles and aunts.

Also, not-so-close relatives who have stayed with the patient can donate organs, provided there is no commercial dealing.

The law makes the swapping of organs between two unrelated families legal in cases where organs of willing near relative donors are found medically incompatible.

But the swap should be without any commercial transactions, it stipulates.

Srinivasan’s rise testifies Indian community’s contributions to US

Indian Ambassador Nirupama Rao has hailed Indian-American Srikanth ‘Sri’ Srinivasan’s Senate confirmation as a top US judge as yet another proof of the Indian community’s “sterling contributions to the US society and India-US relations”.

Srinivasan’s confirmation as a judge on the powerful appeals court for the American capital, “considered among the most important positions in the US judiciary, is testimony to his credibility and calibre as a brilliant legal luminary of this country,” she told an ethnic TV channel and website from Washington recently.

“Born in India to Indian parents, Srinivasan’s well-deserved rise to the top echelons of the American judiciary - the first by an Indian American to such a position - is indeed a matter of great pride and satisfaction for India and the Indian American community,” Rao said.

It was “yet another proof of the sterling contributions of our community to US society and indeed, to India-US relations,” she added. IANS