Beware of suspicious elements

Cricketers must stay vigilant against corruption and honey traps

KARACHI:

There was still some time before the meeting, so I thought I might as well have some ice cream. I went into a shop and, when I looked at the price list, did what most Pakistanis tend to do: convert the prices from British pounds into Pakistani rupees. Then I asked myself, ‘would you really spend several thousand rupees on ice cream? You wasteful man! Get out of here!’ But I listened to my heart and thought, ‘How often do you get to visit London? Treat yourself!’
After buying the ice cream, I went back outside and continued watching the traffic passing along Edgware Road. Oh, I haven’t told you that this was the day Pakistan lost the Test match at Lord’s. There is a sizeable Arab community in this area, and Pakistani politicians have also lived here. During my stay, I witnessed a few minor ‘live fights’ between groups of young men in the vicinity.
For a few moments, I also thought about the security of my mobile phone and laptop, but then reassured myself that this was London, not Karachi.
I had gone straight from the stadium to a ceremony, where I received an award. I was having dinner afterwards when I was invited to a meeting. As the conversation began at an Arabic restaurant, a revelation emerged that left me utterly astonished.
That very night, a few players were questioned at their hotel, and their mobile phones were also taken away. More details will emerge in due course. It is possible that the players in question did nothing wrong and are entirely innocent. Therefore, it would not be appropriate to say too much at this stage. We will have to wait and see how the ongoing investigation unfolds. However, they should cooperate fully with the authorities. If someone is innocent, nothing can be established against them without evidence. On the other hand, attempting to divert attention elsewhere will bring no benefit, only harm. Such attempts have been made in the past, but they achieved nothing.
Pakistan has witnessed several match-fixing cases. Players are well aware of the damage these scandals cause, yet some still make mistakes. Until a few years ago, surrogate advertising was widespread in the country. Gambling companies would make minor changes to their names to promote themselves indirectly. However, when people visited their websites, they would find links to betting services.
Several such companies even sponsored Pakistan’s home series. Despite media reports highlighting the issue, nothing was done. The standard excuse was that one company was called ‘Bet’ while another was called ‘Bat’, and that the similarity in the rest of their names was merely a coincidence.
The issue gained greater prominence when a player in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) objected to such advertising and placed a sticker over the logo. Interestingly, he had already played all the other matches in the tournament before doing so. The previous season had also featured a team sponsored by a similar company, whose logo appeared on the players’ shirts.
People had understood the meaning of surrogate advertising years earlier, yet the practice continued. Initially, one company dominated the market, but several others eventually joined in. When public outcry grew louder, the government finally took action and banned such advertising. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) complied fully, but the practice continued elsewhere.
In the recent past, billboards featuring a former captain promoting a similar company appeared along several roads in Karachi.
Perhaps no other issue has damaged Pakistani cricket as much as match-fixing scandals. It is now time to adopt a genuine zero-tolerance policy. A law should be introduced stating that anyone proven guilty of such an offence must never again be allowed to participate in any cricket-related activity. They should not even be permitted to conduct interviews or offer commentary on digital media. They must be kept completely away from cricketers.
If someone commits such an offence without considering the interests of the country, why should anyone else worry about their livelihood? After all, they must have earned enough money to live comfortably for the rest of their lives.
When such individuals are not dealt with firmly, young players are encouraged to believe that they, too, can get away with wrongdoing. Seeing people who have committed offences in the past roaming around freely and being celebrated as ‘so-and-so bhai’ or ‘such-and-such bhai’ makes young cricketers think they will escape punishment as well.
If corrupt individuals are made examples of, just imagine how much good that could do for the game.
Even today, players frequently receive offers that may be suspicious. Thanks to the PCB’s guidance, many report these approaches to the authorities, helping protect themselves from trouble. Players, too, need to think carefully: people do not give expensive gifts for no reason. Why would someone abandon their entire business to attend every match played by the Pakistan team? There must be some motive behind it. Could you be getting used? Could someone be discreetly trying to obtain inside information from you?
Monitoring and oversight also need to be strengthened. Why would a businessman become friends with a domestic cricketer? Why would he give him gifts or take him everywhere? Think about it.
Players should also avoid falling for messages they receive from women on social media. They should not immediately lose their hearts over such attention. Nor should they send suggestive messages on Instagram that might later emerge as viral screenshots. These days, even voices can be altered using artificial intelligence, so players must exercise caution even when speaking on the phone.
Several players have fallen victim to honey traps, and they need proper guidance on how to protect themselves against such schemes.
Thanks to the PSL, Pakistani cricketers can now earn substantial amounts even if they never represent the national team. They should always remember the lesson they learnt as children: ‘Greed is a terrible curse.’ Keeping this in mind is in everyone’s best interest.