Only the odd apple is rotten: Gavaskar

NEW DELHI, MAY 28. Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar today said, ``There may be an odd rotten apple but others are clean'' and called for a time-bound and thorough probe into match-fixing allegations particularly in the case of current Indian cricket players.

``There may be an odd rotten apple in the pack, but others are clean and they deserve the cloud of suspicion be taken out over their heads,'' Gavaskar told `Star Sports' in an interview in Dhaka, venue of the four-nation Asia Cup tournament.

Gavaskar, who has been advocating for the cleansing of the game was peeved at the way ``cricket's trial by fire'' was on and said ``this kind of innuendo cannot continue''. ``A thorough inquiry should be done so that everything comes out above the board and players can go with their heads held high.''

The world record holder for most number of Test centuries wanted a timeframe to be set for current players to get a ``verdict'' so that they can carry on with their game.

``I certainly would like to see a timeframe set for current players... before the next season starts in September,'' Gavaskar, who is here as television commentator, said.

Gavaskar conceded that the media had to play the role of a watchdog in exposing any wrongdoings, ``but they have to decide where to draw the line... It should not be carried away one way or the other. Media should remember that reputation is built over years.''

Gavaskar hoped greater good and common sense would prevail. He said he was aghast at the ease with which people were approaching the media to be in the spotlight. ``If you've been in the spotlight which is lost now then there is a tendency to rush to the media. That temptation to get back into the spotlight is dangerous.''

He did not rule out the possibility of some people using the situation to settle old scores. ``That may well be the case. Some people might have some grudge from the past which they want to settle now, but at the end of the day greater good will prevail.''

Gavaskar said life-bans alone may not serve the purpose and urged the International Cricket Council to delete all records of any player found guilty. ``This is apart from the law of the land which will decide on what punishment should be given to them,'' he said.

Kapil, Ganguly mum

At Dhaka, as the Indian cricket team arrived for the Asia cup tournament, both skipper Saurav Ganguly and coach Kapil Dev declined to answer any questions about the tournament and on the match-fixing controversy. Avoiding reporters and camerapersons, they headed straight for their rooms.

The captain and coach's decision to shun the media appears to be part of restrictions imposed on the team in the wake of the match-fixing scandal.

Later, the Indian team manager, Mr. Samiran Chakraborty, who came down to the hotel lobby, told waiting reporters: ``It is the decision of the management before leaving for Dhaka that the coach and the captain will not say anything before the match.''

Asked whether this was a code imposed by the BCCI, he said it was the decision of the team management.

- PTI

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