Will `tainted' players and coach be selected?

Even as there seems to be no early end to the match fixing scandal - in fact one fears that the worst may still lie ahead - it is worth remembering that the new cricket season is not too far away. The IT raids have only made matters worse for some of the leading names in Indian cricket and speculation is already rife whether these players would be considered for the national team which has a heavy schedule ahead, starting with the Sahara Cup Series of matches against Pakistan in Toronto from September 9.

Union Sports Minister SS Dhindsa set the ball rolling, when not long after the match fixing scandal broke involving Indian players, he said that the `tainted' players should voluntarily opt out of the team owning moral responsibility. This view was echoed by the Minister of State for Sports Shahnawaz Hussain. Soon there were other prominent persons who were of the view that the players against whom there were match fixing charges should not be selected until they were cleared. In time, public opinion polls too seemed to confirm this view. And now the IT raids must have strengthened this opinion.

While there must be a question mark over the selection of some of the players allegedly involved in match fixing - and whose premises have subsequently been raided in `Operation Gentleman' - the biggest question mark may seem to be over the coach. For some time now there has been speculation whether Kapil Dev should continue in his post. Ignoring all other aspects, this one point has emerged the most voluble in the arguments - whether or not he is involved in match fixing, will he be in the right frame of mind to discharge his difficult duties successfully?

When Kapil Dev was appointed coach in September last year, it was for a two year term. Others before him had been around for about a year and their tenures were far from successful. The theory was put forward that the coach should be in charge for a longer period for the team to have better chances of success and Kapil Dev was appointed for 24 months. But midway through his first term itself, Kapil Dev ran into rough weather, first with the team facing repeated reverses and then having to face the music in the match fixing scandal. Anyone in his place would have been hurt and angry but his general behaviour - crying one day, shouting `Punjab da putar' the next - hasn't exactly gone down well with most cricket fans in the country, even if they still believe he is innocent of the charges. At the moment, even if he keeps his place for Toronto - and there is no guarantee for this - it is highly unlikely that he will get an extension in September.

Though the two Sports Ministers have been asking the players to step down, the Board of Control for Cricket in India has taken a rather cautious view. Not coming out into the open, they have preferred the wait and watch approach. The IT raids however has forced the BCCI to come out with a forthright view and some kind of stance may be expected when the board officials meet Dhindsa on August 1 when they are expected to present not only `Operation Vision' but also the much discussed code of conduct. But even in the case of those players who are neck deep in the match fixing controversy, the argument could well be the same. Irrespective of whether they are guilty or not, would they be in the right frame of mind to play up to potential? After all major controversies can have a dangerous effect, psychologically and mentally more than physically. There is unlikely to be an early end to the match fixing case and if the probe is still on when the team is picked, it seems highly unlikely that the `tainted' players will be selected.