But spot-fixing can be done in cricket, said former Team India coach while delivering lecture at Gujarat National Law University.
Match-fixing is not possible but one can't rule out spot-fixing in today's gentleman's game, Anshuman Gaekwad said. The former Team India coach also advocated a life ban for those involved in fixing, while delivering a special lecture on 'The Understanding of Issues Relating to Match Fixing in Cricket' at Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), Gandhinagar on Friday.
"Remember, there is a big difference between match-fixing and spot-fixing. Match-fixing determines the outcome of the match and it requires senior players to get involved. It is a very unlikely scenario. But spot-fixing is different. Here only an individual gets involved in the illegal activity," said Gaekwad, who was coach of Team India during the World Cup 1999 in England.
When asked about the match-fixing virus that has bitten Indian cricket, especially with two captains, Md Azaharuddin and Ajay Jadeja, being handed down bans for their alleged roles in the wrongdoings, Gaekwad refused to buy the idea. "There is no reason to believe it is happening in India as we won almost 90 per cent of our matches when they were around," he said.
Meanwhile, sharing one of the shocking nights of his professional life, Gaekwad said, on the eve of Nidahas Trophy 1998 final in Sri Lanka, he got an anonymous call. The caller refused to get into details but only said, 'India will lose the match.'
"I was surprised by the call. After me it was the manager who got the call. The manager was scared but I asked him to cool down.
Next morning I discussed the episode with senior players including Sachin, Sourav and captain Azharuddin. I asked them to keep their respective mobiles away till the match was over. And as you know, Sachin-Sourav registered a 250-run partnership for first wicket, and laid the platform for a big score. We won that match," Gaekwad said.
Talking of the infamous spot-fixing scandal involving three Pakistan players, including then captain Salman Butt, Gaekwad said the same yardstick should be applied to all perpetrators of such deeds. "If some one is putting the game to shame, he should be banned for life and even be given imprisonment. There should be some law for it. Even GNLU can help in drafting stringent laws to deal with match-fixing, something similar to what the Australians have proposed," he said.
The New South Wales Law Reform Commission of Australia has proposed a 10-year jail term for those involved in match-fixing.
Gaekwad backed Indian players not only against match-fixing but also doping laws.
"When you sign the anti-doping agency law, a cricketer has to give details of his day-to-day activities. It also means if he goes on holiday with family he has to keep them informed. So there is no privacy for players. Some option or alternative to that has to be found out," the former Test opener said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}