Not much time to blog today, but here are two pieces worth reading, the first from Nick Harris at Sporting Intelligence
on The News Of The World's approach to Yasir Hameed, and the other from Aniruddah Bahal in Open magazine
on how the NOTW sting went down.
I've been wondering how to comment on this whole sorry saga, but find I have nothing much to say except: (1) while spot betting exists, spot fixing is inevitable, humans being what they are; and (2) fixing is the absolute worst sporting crime, because unless the spectators can believe that what they see is real, the whole point of sport is lost. Anyone found guily therefore has to be banned for life (I'm hardline on it.)
ReplyDeleteOne wonders if the NOTW now regret their rather feeble week 2 follow-up, which seemed to rely on a rather inept expose of the hapless Yasir Hameed?
ReplyDeleteMuch better to have reclined on their newly acquired moral high ground and enjoyed the show. But then again that's hardly standard tabloid tactics ...
Evan - yes was surprised at the NOTW. Thought they'd have another revelation. still, they had Rooney, so probably weren't that bothered...
ReplyDeleteBrit, for some reason I keep drawing the drug dealer analogy. It's all very well busting the players, but until you get the fixers, it will continue. Maybe if they just legalised gambling in asia...
Even if they legalized gambling in asia, isn't the motivation to rig events (such as a maiden over or a no-ball) still there? the shorter the tournament is, the more weight these events bear on the fate of the match, the more likely they can be rigged.
ReplyDelete