Five ways the spot-fixing scandal could affect the ICC Champions Trophy

3. League plague ?

Though international cricket is no stranger to the vice of fixing, its appearance in the IPL merely gave the cash-rich league’s critics another opportunity to dub it the ‘hotbed of corruption’ (and other such much-used, less understood phrases). The burden of fixing was thus, briefly, put down to the glamorous, careless nature of the IPL. However, Ashraful’s involvement in fixing in the Bangladesh Premier League is now spilling into the international circuit. Bangladesh Cricket Board chief Nazmul Hassan said,” …investigation also includes international matches, and it is not just limited to the BPL.” This means that the fixing scandal is likely to be added to the infamous list of international fixing scandals beginning from Hansie Cronje‘s guilt, to the Pakistan spot-fixing scandal involving Md. Asif, Salman Butt and Md. Amir. The emotions and stakes attached with representing one’s country are much higher. The public outcry is also of a more shrill nature and hence, every ball that is bowled in this Champions Trophy will be looked at with great scrutiny.

4. The economics of it all

The ICC will be hoping for financial success in the final edition of the Champion Trophy

The Champions Trophy is a bed-ridden event in a way; it is already known that this is its last edition. Most critics will fail to tell you the reason of its failure however, as it is designed to be the most competitive tournament, free of the much-slandered ‘minnows’. It is a tournament that gets going from the beginning, with group matches virtually having the significance of knockout encounters. England is a beautiful venue for the event. The English are perhaps the most knowledgeable and respectful audience of the game, and a vast population of South Asians means that the sub-continental teams will also get their due support. It makes for a fantastic financial prospect; however, the spot fixing scandal looms. Everything from television broadcasters to sponsors have a stake in the success of the event and more incidents could threaten the ICC’s revenues, which will be a immediate failure if not a lasting dent.

5. The fading glory

Any professional sportsperson lives for the moment of glory that, though set in time, enlightens and enlivens his/her entire life. A cup winner is a winner for life. The glory that comes out of a feeling of winning something prestigious, by proving one’s skills against one’s competitors, is an indescribable feeling. However, that glory fades when the event is tainted by the negative atmosphere of distrust and scrutiny. The promise of winning the Champions Trophy in itself, added with the prospect of weighing oneself against strong opponents halfway on the grand road to the World Cup, can be hugely motivating for individual players. If the spot-fixing scandal manages to envelope this event in its dark shadow, these individual performances will be hindered. Viewed with doubt and scepticism from all around, these players cannot be expected to bear the scarlet letter in their quest for excellence.