`The greatest crisis the game has faced since Bodyline' was how the match fixing scandal was christened soon after it broke on April 7. Some seven weeks later, it is safe to re-christen it as the biggest crisis in the history of cricket. For such has been its impact worldwide. In the case of Bodyline only two countries were involved though admittedly there were some serious ramifications. In the match fixing controversy, so many countries have been dragged in to make it a truly international scam of gigantic proportions. And what is truly discouraging is that there seems no end to the crisis. Indeed, if anything the problem seems to be escalating with each passing day.

There are many factors for this and the prime reason would appear to be the fact that instead of trying to help solve the problem, certain personalities have used the current crisis to get even with their adversaries. Another discouraging aspect has been the fact that players and administrators have tried to deflect the blame and pass it to someone else. Then there have emerged the publicity mongers who make sensational statements, full of unsubstantiated allegations. It is said that a crisis brings out the best in a man. The current cricketing crisis has, on the contrary, brought out the worst in some men.

The first thing anyone learns in a crisis is to be cool, calm and collected. That is one lesson many involved in the present controversy have conveniently preferred to forget. The main characters have had time only for their personal ego clashes, to pursue their own selfish objectives, to see things only from their viewpoint and not from the larger viewpoint of the game's future.

In a way, the governing bodies of the game in various countries are also to blame for not taking adequate steps to control the problem from having a snowballing effect. They seemed to have made an initial misjudgement in assessing the magnitude of the crisis and then have not done much in taking steps to halt the avalanche of charges and counter charges which have done so much to worsen the situation.

To be candid, the scandal has assumed menacing proportions and while the International Cricket Council has done what it could under the circumstances, the time has come for all to join hands to help solve the crisis. Ultimately it is a question of ethics, something that those indulging in baseless allegations, unsubstantiated charges and loose talk should remember. This is the time for the entire cricketing fraternity to stand united, forget their personal interests, think only of the game - which as it is faces an uncertain future - and solve the crisis that has already tarnished cricket's image. So much damage has already been done since the initial revelations that one wonders whether the game will ever be the same again. But that is no reason why the situation should be allowed to get out of hand. The reaction of the some of the protagonists has been typically like Nero of old. Cricket is burning but they are fiddling. Repairing the damage should be the first priority. Instead, all they are doing is adding fuel to the fire.

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