BackSreesanth’s spot-fixing is an insult to Rahul Dravid
For Sreesanth to have fixed any part of a game involving a legend like Dravid is an insult to the gentleman cricketer
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The saddest part of the spot fixing that has just stuck IPL 6, is that it involves three players from the Rajasthan Royals which is led by Rahul Dravid. A man who wore his integrity on his sleeve, Dravid must be one of the few cricketers in the world whose glittering career is untouched by the whiff of scandal or sleaze.
Having retired recently from test cricket, Dravid has been approaching his new assignment of leading a bunch of no-hopers to within touching distance of a prized place in the semis of the ongoing T20 league, with the same zeal and zest that has been the hallmark of his international career.
For S. Sreesanth, to have fixed any part of a game involving such a legend is a travesty of all norms of sportsmanship and an insult to the gentleman cricketer. That this trio should have remained unaffected by Dravid’s presence and his inspiring words in the dressing room is more evidence that they have a moral fibre that does not stand up to scrutiny.
Ironically, Dravid was also the captain when Sreesanth went over the top, during a test match in South Africa in 2006. Having hit South African fast bowler Andre Nel for a six, Sreesanth broke into what seemed like a prolonged lassoing-a-horse sequence in the middle of the pitch. Those were the first portents of a promising career dangerously close to turning into farce.
Also See: Slideshow | The many faces of S. Sreesanth
In his wonderful speech at the Bradman Oration in Canberra in December 2010, Rahul Dravid had said, “If we stand up for the game’s basic decencies, it will be far easier to tackle its bigger dangers - whether it is finding short cuts to easy money or being lured by the scourge of spot-fixing and contemplating any involvement with the betting industry." Sreesanth and Ajit Chandila, and Ankeet Chavan have clearly not understood the wisdom of those words.
Talk of greatness rubbing off on lesser men, theirs’ is an example of lesser men tarnishing the reputation of a great with the stench of their own sleaze.
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