Can Cricket Recover?

Everyone seems pleased that the three Pakistan cricketers and their agent involved in the summer's spot-fixing row have been given jail sentences, although it has highlighted just how pathetic the ICC's attempts to curb this behaviour are. It has been very reminiscent of parliament when someone finally takes action over something that everyone knows is wrong, lots of people jump on the bandwagon and say how they'd have done the same thing given the opportunity, or that the ICC needs to have a long, hard look at itself. All very easy when you don't actually take any risks.

The real worry is the damage that these people (the guilty ones) have caused the game of cricket. Even at the time Michael Holding and the rest of the Sky commentary team thought something was awry, certainly with Amir's no balls, that were so far over it was ridiculous. And then the news broke that they were pre-arranged when the NOTW printed its story.

As plenty of media types have said one now starts to look back at games where extraordinary things have happened and wonder whether games were thrown, certainly ones involving Pakistan, who have always blown hot and cold during matches and series. Especially since other players' names are being bandied about as being involved, and not all Pakistani from what I can gather.

And will the prison sentences really deter others from spot-fixing? Asif was reputedly paid £65,000 for his no-ball, which is about three and a half years wages on a PCB contract - not bad for a fast(ish) bowler approaching 30 and with a limited shelf life. Apart from the fact that he was caught and has to spend a year in prison of course.

We have been in a similar situation before after Hansie Cronje was caught and banned at the same time as a couple of others, who if memory serves, were from Pakistan. Cricket recovered then and almost certainly will again. There is now increased pressure on players not to have a howler though, as they may well find themselves under investigation Spanish Inquisition style, which would be unfair.

Only time will tell I suppose, but I really hope the popularity of cricket isn't adversely affected by the greed of a few.