Back in 2000, when news of "Captain Corrupt" broke in South Africa, few could believe in the fallibility of a South African hero.
The King Commission, spread-betting and bookmakers were thrust into the spotlight. Now we are once again revisiting this most heinous of transgressions in international sport.
Three Pakistani cricketers have been implicated in scandal. And, once again, a captain is involved: Salman Butt. His co-conspirators are alleged to be test bowlers Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif. It was said by Britain's News of the World that a businessman named Mazhar Majeed arranged for no-balls to be bowled during Pakistan's Lord's Test with England.
"Disgraceful conduct" hardly describes the actions of such revered players.
Cricket has been rocked by scandal. Major international stars have been implicated in sports-betting malfeasance.
These once-respected players have brought the game and themselves into disrepute. Anything other than a natural outcome of a cricket match is unacceptable. Spot-betting, spread-betting, insider pitch reports and the like have brought tremendous shame to the gentlemen's game.
It's a sad day for the International Cricket Council when the honour of country captains can no longer be defended.
Let this latest scandal be a reminder to those who represent their country in cricket: the fans and the authorities will not tolerate this any longer.
Players found guilty of dabbling with bookmakers truly deserve a lifeban from the game and to be made an example of.
This disrepute smacks of greed and nothing else.
Maximum punitive measures should be implemented to salvage whatever honour is left in cricketing circles.
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