Betting- a venom affecting society???

Been caught up with a job change is reason enough to distract one from focusing on how nations are building up to the cricket world cup approaching in 2011.

Then again, SL and India facing each other every second day is a boring exercise as itself and on the lifeless pitches of SL and it is almost a joke.

However, as if to shock and jolt your sensibilities and make you question your love for the game; Match fixing rears its ugly head... Spot fixing if you take this instance... Really; did we need this to wake us up from a cricketing slumber if there was one???

Pakistani cricketers are in the eye of the storm again. One of the most talented left armers after Akram and a swing bowler par excellence are the prima facie culprits and the astonishing part is every cricketing nation except Pak is seething with fury...

However, after the initial fury has subsided as I write this.. there is much to think about...
1) Is it possible that if this is such a big money spinning industry; only Pak cricketers would be involved?
2) What makes a young sensation like Amir risk his entire career for a no-ball?Just the money or pressure or threats?
3) If anti corruption body is so toothless as to not unearth this on its own; how easy would it be for someone to mingle with IPL players at exclusively staged night parties after the game
4) Is the logic of labeling criminals only when caught fair?
5) Is life ban or banning the countrys team any sensible solution to breach of the trust of entire cricket loving populus?

To me; we are over-reacting. We are letting the actual corrupt people get away far 2 easy.. Those bribing are not the ones implicated but those bribed are being asked to give up their livelihood... It's a mistake and the punishment has to be severe but humane as well. The purpose of punishment cannot be to demoralize and further criminalize the perp but provide him an avenue to repent his sins and lead a better life...

I believe a sensible action would be heavy monetary fines ( the thing that got them to commit the crimes; make them pay up to 3 yrs non paid work and put them under thorough observation) is the way to go. Also make the anti corruption monitoring body one that has teeth and purpose. Such illicit betting agents need to be monitoered as well and brought under the ambit of unfair gamesmanship if betting is legal in the countries they operate in... Finally and foremost, legalize betting... whats currently done under the carpet can be done over it too.. Odds and money bet can both be transparent... That way government can make money too. Bet360 and Fairbet etc are good sites that provide excellent avenues for legal, transparent betting...

Kill the disease not the affected...