G Longley: Doig advocates life bans for match-fixing (11 Sep 1998)

11 September 1998

Doig advocates life bans for match-fixing

by Geoff Longley

Life bans should be imposed on any players found guilty of match-fixing internationals, says New Zealand Cricket chief executive Chris Doig.

Doig was commenting after a Pakistan inquiry revealed that Wasim Akram, Salim Malik, and Ijaz Ahmed were involved in rigging games, including a one-day international in Christchurch in 1994.

"I would suggest anyone found guilty of such offences deserves to be thrown out of the game. It calls into question the very fabric of cricket," Doig said. He said the issue had not been discussed directly by the NZC board, but he expected it to take a strong stance on such indiscretions.

Doig said when talks of match-fixing had arisen at the last International Cricket Council meetings, where he was a New Zealand representative, the talk had been of further substantial suspensions if not complete bans.

Doig said the ICC will hope the Pakistan Cricket Board will take appropriate action once its inquiry is complete.

The present report said further investigations were still under way, but recommended the trio not play at test level during the interim.

"Match-fixing involving countries from the sub-continent must be stamped out," Doig said.

Pakistan is not the only country involved in match-rigging, India having at times been under suspicion with heavy betting, often through bookmakers in Bombay. Doig said one had to understand life in the sub-continent.

"The Western world has a different view on its business principles to such practices. In the likes of Pakistan a degree of corruption exists as a means of survival."

Doig applauded the stand of Pakistan administrator and former captain Majid Khan in tracking down the truth in relation to the allegations.

"He is a distinguished and honourable man and the cricket world should be grateful for his integrity."

Meanwhile, Kiwi cricketer Gavin Larsen said he was not suspicious about New Zealand's easy 1994 win over Pakistan.

Larsen said he remembered the Pakistanis, who had already won the series, arriving at the ground as if they did not want to be there.

"But that's the thing about Pakistan. They don't seem to have even emotions in their cricket. That is what makes them such a danger. One minute they seem disinterested and then the next they are right in your face."

The sad thing about the disclosure, he said, was that it made you wonder about some of the results that have been achieved.

Meanwhile Pakistan paceman Akram has denied allegations he was involved in fixing cricket matches. Akram said the allegations were "totally untrue and ludicrous," and he also defended team-mates Salim Malik and Ijaz Ahmed. "If Salim and Ijaz are involved, how come they have gone to play in the Sahara Cup in Toronto?"

Source :: The Canterbury Press (https://www.press.co.nz/)