Australian View - Test 3 and scandals: Ian Chappell (11 December 1998)

11 December 1998

Australian View - Test 3 and scandals: Ian Chappell

Ian Chappell

AS THE third Ashes Test looms and another betting scandal erupts, this time involving two of Australia's stars, it could be a case of the storm before the lull.

The news that Mark Waugh and Shane Warne both accepted money from a bookmaker is disturbing, but the fact that the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) tried to hide the subsequent fines was downright stupid. While there's no suggestion that the two players were trying to influence the result of a game by accepting money, Waugh and Warne were misguided in becoming involved with underworld figures.

At worst their action could have led to a more sinister situation and once criminal types are owed a favour, there is no legal way out.

The fact that Waugh and Warne later accused (the then) Pakistan captain Salim Malik of offering bribes, indicates that at least the cricketers had learnt it was best to go public in these cases. Why then did the ACB, in conjunction with the International Cricket Council (ICC) decide to stay quiet and hope the matter would disappear?

It is typical of the Ostrich approach which most cricket administrators adopt when a controversy arises and no doubt the ACB thought they were helping Waugh and Warne, but in reality they've done them no favours.

However, their motive becomes more sinister in the light of the Pakistan judicial inquiry. Surely the name of a bookmaker is relevant to the inquiry and on that basis alone the matter should have been divulged.

The fact that it's only come to light via a leak begs the question: "What else are the ACB hiding?" If there is more, let's hope that cricket administrators will finally realise the folly of the 'ostrich approach'.

In addition to using this issue as a lever to gain global control of the game, the ICC should immediately write into the Code of Conduct that any player or official associating with known gamblers or betting on the game will be banned for life. That way everyone understands the seriousness of the situation.

Having seen how the bribery scandal has torn apart Pakistan in recent matches, it'll be interesting to see how this affair affects the Australian team. There is no internal conflict involved in this situation so it won't hurt Australia as much as it's obviously harmed Pakistan, but I doubt that Mark Taylor's team will remain unaffected. If it does nothing else it will detract from their preparation for the Adelaide Test as well as being an extra, unwanted burden on the mind of Mark Waugh.

For the Australian team as a whole the affair will have been the storm, while retaining the Ashes could well be the lull that follows.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)