You can’t get away doing something wrong: Sunil Gavaskar on match-fixing

Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar during the inauguration of a cricket field in Louisville, Kentucky on Oct 26, 2017. The Sunil Gavaskar field will become the first facility outside India to be named after an Indian player. (Photo: IANS)


Amid the match-fixing news circulating around the Indian cricket, legendary batsman Sunil Gavaskar has warned the perpetrators that they “can’t get away” as everything is televised and anyone having done something wrong will be exposed.

It is to note that the Tamil Nadu Premier League and the Karnataka Premier League have been in the news for all the wrong reasons as are embroiled in fixing and betting controversies.

“I would imagine sometimes the circumstances make a player think ‘I can get away with it’. But you can’t get away. Because it is so covered by television, every little aspect… you will be exposed as having done something wrong,” Gavaskar was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

Talking further Gavaskar told, “Greed is a thing which no amount of education, guidance, seminars with anti-corruption guys is going to help. Greed is something that is human. The best of societies, the most developed of societies still have criminals. In cricket also you will always have the odd person who will be swayed by greed. (It) could be some other reason that might force him to do something. That’s something I don’t think you can totally control.”

Despite cricket leagues being more prone to corruption, the former Indian skipper believes these tournaments should always find the support of the people as they bolster Indian cricket.

“Look at the talent that it has provided from the districts. For example, the Karnataka Premier League, the number of people who have come from the interiors which otherwise even the best of Karnataka scouts couldn’t have been able to see.”

“Same with TNPL and all the other leagues that are happening (in India). I think these leagues are very, very good. It is giving more talent to India cricket, talent which would have otherwise gone untapped,” he added.