In the recent past, we have witnessed that the sting operation conducted by news channel Al Jazeera has created a stir among the cricketing world. They earlier accused Sri Lankan cricketer of altering with the condition of the pitches. The venue was Galle in a couple of Tests involving India and Australia respectively.
Well, they further released a video in which Hasan Raza, the former Pakistani cricketer could be seen chatting with a well-known bookie in that video.
Recently the news channel went a step further. They released a documentary where they alleged some of the Australian and English cricketers for their corrupt activities.
However, in the documentary, Al Jazeera muted their conversation where the names of the Australian players were claimed. Now, quite rightly Cricket Australia (CA) has asked for the original footage which includes the name of the cricketers. They have to verify the fact that whether the accusations are true or not.
However for it to happen, the names of the cricketers must come out.
Former Australian wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist conceded the fact that no country is immune to match spot-fixing. However, he expressed his disagreement with the claims made by the news channel.
Veteran Gilchrist added if they are so sure then why don’t they name the cricketers. Gilchrist wondered why even the English and the Australian cricketers get involved in fixing after getting so much money.
“Nobody, no nation, no team is immune to [spot-fixing] and there’s every chance it’s still going on around the cricketing world. So Australia, or England, or whoever they’re accusing – there’s a chance it could be going on, but if you’re that certain, then name them,” Adam Gilchrist was quoted as saying by Back Page Live on Tuesday night.
I refuse to believe says, Adam Gilchrist:
“I refuse to believe – and I’d be disappointed if I was proved otherwise – but England and Australian cricketers are getting paid so much. Unless these bookies have got a hook in these guys and they’ve got something over them from some other part in their life that they don’t want to be exposed, I can’t imagine why they would want to go and do it,” the former Australian cricketer added.
The match in the question is the third Test between India and Australia in Ranchi last year (2017) which ended in a draw. It was a high-scoring affair with India scoring 603 runs in the first innings.
Cheteshwar Pujara struck a magnificent double century. Australia after batting first made 451.
