6 International umpires were named to have reportedly been engaged with bookies in fixing international matches. I was too shocked to even react. Cricket fans and addicts around the world will be heartbroken, people who believe in good over powering the evil will be hurt beyond repair. The earth shattering truth will awaken many people from their happy bubble in which everything is good, in which wrong doings are not possible, in which righteousness is the way of life.
I parked my bike outside my granddad's house and the first sound that I heard was the noise of a reporter screaming in the mike about the match fixing scam which astonished the cricketers and the fans alike. I looked at my gramps in surprise. He looked back at me and shook his head, telling me silently that he has given up, that he no longer wants to have anything to do with the game and its disgusting and twisted ways. Back in the 1930's everything was simple, everything was peaceful and everybody was honest. Cricket matches were won and lost, not because of money, but because of the hard work and the commitment of the players. gramps used to wake up at 4 in the morning just to see his boys batting or fielding their hearts out. They did not get much money but they were happy, they were content. The equation was very simple.
Play well --> win the game.
Now life is complicated. The equation is complicated.
Play your heart out --> wait for the umpire to play their game --> wait for the franchise/board to play their game --> after all this, if you have it in you, win the game.
I was disappointed. I was hurt. But when I was riding back home from my grandad's house, a theory formed inside my head. The theory of cricket and all these allegations about match fixing, if you observe closely, is very similar to copying methods used by students to clear examinations. Let me explain in detail.
Exams are conducted to check how much we have understood the subject and how we are able to reproduce it. So obviously techniques like copying and googling stuff in the exam hall are prohibited. Now, compare this with the game of cricket. This game is played to see who is the better team and which team delivers on that day. So, naturally unfair practices are strictly not allowed. Just like how the students find innumerable ways to copy in examinations, the game of cricket also sees many alarming predicaments like match fixing, umpires playing unfairly because of the temptation called money and so on. But no matter how many students try to copy, in the end the student who has been fair and who has prepared and presented well will be the one who scores well and makes herself and her parents proud. The same case applies to cricket as well. No matter how many people try to fix matches or rob the game off its beauty, truth eventually wins, hard work always pays off, talent over powers malpractice.
There might be people out there fixing balls, paying the umpires to support one team, but in the end, cricket is an unpredictable game. Nobody can control a wide ball, nobody can change a mid wicket 6, nobody can call off an LBW. That is how the game is and that is how it will always be.
Aishwarya Kumar.
I parked my bike outside my granddad's house and the first sound that I heard was the noise of a reporter screaming in the mike about the match fixing scam which astonished the cricketers and the fans alike. I looked at my gramps in surprise. He looked back at me and shook his head, telling me silently that he has given up, that he no longer wants to have anything to do with the game and its disgusting and twisted ways. Back in the 1930's everything was simple, everything was peaceful and everybody was honest. Cricket matches were won and lost, not because of money, but because of the hard work and the commitment of the players. gramps used to wake up at 4 in the morning just to see his boys batting or fielding their hearts out. They did not get much money but they were happy, they were content. The equation was very simple.
Play well --> win the game.
Now life is complicated. The equation is complicated.
Play your heart out --> wait for the umpire to play their game --> wait for the franchise/board to play their game --> after all this, if you have it in you, win the game.
I was disappointed. I was hurt. But when I was riding back home from my grandad's house, a theory formed inside my head. The theory of cricket and all these allegations about match fixing, if you observe closely, is very similar to copying methods used by students to clear examinations. Let me explain in detail.
Exams are conducted to check how much we have understood the subject and how we are able to reproduce it. So obviously techniques like copying and googling stuff in the exam hall are prohibited. Now, compare this with the game of cricket. This game is played to see who is the better team and which team delivers on that day. So, naturally unfair practices are strictly not allowed. Just like how the students find innumerable ways to copy in examinations, the game of cricket also sees many alarming predicaments like match fixing, umpires playing unfairly because of the temptation called money and so on. But no matter how many students try to copy, in the end the student who has been fair and who has prepared and presented well will be the one who scores well and makes herself and her parents proud. The same case applies to cricket as well. No matter how many people try to fix matches or rob the game off its beauty, truth eventually wins, hard work always pays off, talent over powers malpractice.
There might be people out there fixing balls, paying the umpires to support one team, but in the end, cricket is an unpredictable game. Nobody can control a wide ball, nobody can change a mid wicket 6, nobody can call off an LBW. That is how the game is and that is how it will always be.
Aishwarya Kumar.
Awesome. I am commenting first, as usual.
ReplyDeleteI was also really upset on hearing about these match fixing news! :( At least the umpires are expected to be honest. It's like the teachers providing certain students with answers during an examination because the latter paid the former to do so. I hope truth eventually triumphs, because that is how it should be.
Heartfelt piece...I can always say when you write something from your heart. And I'm so glad you are taking this seriously. You will make me proud one day, I tell you. :D
Now gear up to cover CLT20. :D
Love,
Always and Forever,
Nidheya. :D :*
I love the way u encourage Aishu , I honestly wish some one could that to me.
Deletewe all do,don't we?? We all want that somebody to be batting for us no matter what happens, right?
DeleteAs her best friend it is something I shall do till my very last breath. :)
DeleteThat is sooooo adorable
DeleteAadhu: I will kill you. I am your editor, I will always encourage you. Forever and beyond also. Don't even say that again. :'O
DeleteYa, Nidheya is aweeeesomeee like that. :D I am too lucky to have her. :D
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteChill , it was not about you :D Sorry
DeletePlayers weren't involved in these umpires fixing scandal man. Latter paying former theory does not exist. Its the bookies paying the umpires.
ReplyDeleteWill give my best.
Aishu. :D
Yeah, bookies only students here. X(
DeleteIt is obvious its from the heart. The thing is with you everything with cricket is from the deep borrows of your heart.
ReplyDeleteI must admit it is one of the reasons why I have started taking more interest in the entire institution of cricket. That curiosity was always there, being brought up in India but you gave that extra push.
Your excitement, conviction and from the heart love for it is so very infectious. I cannot help myself. If I am learning it is because I am motivated looking at you. Think of what you are doing then, your command over your writing is touching people. So please continue and give it your best. I am sure you will achieve great things in life.
Always,
Paro
Thank you so much. :D
ReplyDeleteI am so glad that I am motivating you to learn more about the game. Thank you so much, I will give my best and make sure that you understand more about the game. :)
Aishu. :D
Yes , it is a real great thing no , that the bookies can't control the 6 down the ground. It is Very depressing when something like this happens to cricket. And the correlation is spot on. the t20 and things like the ipl are like MCQs . those are areas where people tend to cheat easily and never get caught but at that moment itself all dignity is gone for ever.
ReplyDeleteThank you. :D
DeleteYa, seriously. :O
Well said ma'am. Its appalling to see the umpires who we once considered morally infallible to stoop low to commit themselves to something as heinous as this!
ReplyDeleteYa, seriously. Very disturbing.
Delete