Since the match fixing scandal broke and gave cyclists and Caster Semenya around the world a bit of breathing room from controversy, the Pakistan authorities have moved swiftly to bring seven players and a few senior officials to book (pun unintended). In a serious cricketing nation that is a given, especially considering that the middle eastern cricketing strongholds are frequently rocked by betting scandals. Not that interesting, nothing to see here, move along...

But, what is interesting is that these players and officials have been charged with Treason. Now that seems a tad harsh. Basically these guys were offered a couple of thousand woopees or whatever the Pakistani currency is to bowl no-balls at certain intervals. It's called spot betting and is quite a big money spinner for the bookies. So if these guys are found guilty of treason and punished according to the recommended sentencing thereof, they will be put to death. For bowling no-balls. Just a tad harsh methinks...

Spot fixing a no-ball is also not as simple as that... what if the umpire misses it? What if the player forgets? (Herschelle Gibbs *forgot* to lose his wicket for his R50k). Seems a bit of a risk on the bookies' part doesn't it?

Match-fixing in cricket is nothing new. I know of club games in South Africa that were thrown to allow particular teams a chance not to be relegated to lesser leagues. On a national level South Africa was disgraced in a betting scandal that saw captain-at-the-time Hansie Cronje banned for life. Others, including Herschelle, received lengthy bans in that scandal. Australia have also in the past been implicated in several match fixing allegations with the great Shane Warne named several times in investigations.

Getting rid of match-fixing in cricket will be near impossible. Sentencing cricketers to death is a possible solution, but if you kill off the players, that may actually have dire consequences for the longevity of the game. Although it must be said this is certainly an effective way to dissuade young Pakistanis from bowling no-balls.

That these guys should be punished is a no-brainer. Perhaps a couple of fines, a few matches missed and facing a couple hundred overs from the worlds fastest bowlers would be apt punishment. For the serial offenders don't allow them any protective clothing. Or a bat. Oh wait, that sounds like a death penalty afterall...