Revisiting Randiv's No-Ball
As a fan of Pakistan cricket, I am heartbroken about the match-fixing revelations. But when I see Amir and Asif's pre-decided no-balls, as an Indian cricket fan, I can't help but revisit Suraj Randiv's no-ball. The no-ball he bowled to deny Virender Sehwag a century.
At that time, Sri Lanka Cricket (board) suspended Randiv, and apologized to Sehwag. It was suggested that the whole thing was a stupid, petty, almost sadistic thing that Randiv had done to deny Sehwag, Sri lanka's prime tormenter for several years, a century.
But these revelations got me thinking. If I were a bookie. The situation was - Sehwag is 99 not out. On strike. Against a spinner. Team needs 5 runs to win. Sehwag needs 1 for a century. As a bookie, what would I offer for Sehwag NOT getting to a century? Certainly steep ones. 50:1? 100:1? Now if I as a bookie offered you those odds, and you had some way to talking to the bowler Randiv or to some senior teammate of his like Dilshan, to make sure the 5 runs were given by means of....oh I don't know.... 4 byes and 1 no-ball. Wouldn't you bet everything you had on it?
Makes you wonder, doesn't it?
At that time, Sri Lanka Cricket (board) suspended Randiv, and apologized to Sehwag. It was suggested that the whole thing was a stupid, petty, almost sadistic thing that Randiv had done to deny Sehwag, Sri lanka's prime tormenter for several years, a century.
But these revelations got me thinking. If I were a bookie. The situation was - Sehwag is 99 not out. On strike. Against a spinner. Team needs 5 runs to win. Sehwag needs 1 for a century. As a bookie, what would I offer for Sehwag NOT getting to a century? Certainly steep ones. 50:1? 100:1? Now if I as a bookie offered you those odds, and you had some way to talking to the bowler Randiv or to some senior teammate of his like Dilshan, to make sure the 5 runs were given by means of....oh I don't know.... 4 byes and 1 no-ball. Wouldn't you bet everything you had on it?
Makes you wonder, doesn't it?
