Commentary/ Rajiv Shukla

It is positively indecent to shower cricketers with multi-million contracts right from day one

Manoj Prabhakar made certain allegations. The Board of Control for Cricket in India heard him loud and clear. It instituted an inquiry into the matter.

Old hat, all this, right? But bear with me for a coupla more -- before we get cracking, let's first get our 'betting' facts correct, okay?

Like I said, all that's past. And now we have enough confirmation that Prabhakar was not shooting his mouth off like many say.

A former Bombay cop says he has proof of similar dealings; that he himself heard a deal being struck to bribe four Indian players. Former Indian team manager Ajit Wadekar, too, has in a way confirmed Prabhakar's allegations by admitting he had received similar information. (He had tapped the players' phones, it seems.) Another BCCI office-bearer claims to have had the same experience two years ago.

Now, all these people cannot be lying, can they be? If so, for what purpose? Maybe they felt sorry for Prabhakar hollering blue betting all alone and wanted to give him company? Maybe they wanted some publicity out of it? Or, maybe, they are doing it just for the heck of it?

Let's now see what can be done to unravel this mess. First, take the cop's claims. His allegations must be investigated either by the CBI or by the police themselves. It is surprising that the officer, after listening to the bookie, thought it fit to ignore the matter. The Bombay police commissioner should take action against him for not registering a case at that point of time.

It is quite funny that Prabhakar, Wadekar and this police officer are unwilling to name names. Even funnier is the fact that despite such serious allegations, nobody thinks it necessary to interrogate them closely. This is not exactly a minor matter that can be shut-eyed. It is more than a question of giving or taking bribes -- what they have done is sell our national prestige abroad. Unfortunately, such matters appear to be beyond the authorities' comprehension.

Wadekar must be made to reveal whose phones he tapped and what information he got. The police officer made his allegation in a national daily on condition of anonymity. His name should be made public.

Now for a long time measure. I wish companies like Pepsi, Coca Cola, Wills, Phillips, MRF and the rest would restrain from spoiling cricketers so. It is positively indecent to shower them with multi-million advertisement contracts right from day one.

Make cricketers millionaires, by all means. Make them billionaires, if they want. But show a little restrain: wait a little while, say, for four years. Let them play dedicatedly for the country. Then make them heroes on television, make them semi-gods.

But not before. It spoils their game. And the game.

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