Is cricket tarnished beyond repair?

Can cricket, traditionally the most gentlemanly of sports, survive the latest damaging accusations? Or is the game tarnished beyond repair?

We are discussing the future of cricket today on the World Service's Talking Point LIVE, at 1400 GMT (1500BST).

Call us NOW on [phone] to join the live debate or email us with your comments.

In the studio to answer your questions will be West Indian cricket legend Clive Lloyd.

My school, Jaffna Central College even plays cricket with bombs and shells falling around due to the civil war. Cricket won't die.

K.S.Balachandran, Canada/Sri Lanka

We cricket lovers feel very bad about this incident and it's strange for a cricketer of this calibre to stoop down to this level. Accepting money to fix a match? Shame. We never believed this is possible with so many people around the world playing and watching cicket with genuine interest. Long live cricket!
K.S.Balachandran, Canada/Sri Lanka

I think its about time that the South African Cricket Committee stopped trying to deflect comment about their own nasty mess by insinuating corruption elsewhere. If they knew about the World Cup, they should have reported it at the time. Get your own house in order before you start rubbishing everyone else!
Mel, UK

The Hanse Cronje corruption case just goes to show how competitive sport, not just cricket, has been dominated by personal greed. People are no longer in sport for the sake of entertainment, but to make more money even when they already have enough.
Wilcliff Sakala, Zambia

It is perhaps the ICC that is more in crisis than cricket itself. When the Mark Waugh and Shane Warne incident was revealed some two years after the event why did the ICC not take any action against the ACB for not revealing the incident to them and the rest of the world at the time but dealing with it quietly as they wished.
Devika, Malaysia

While Hanse Cronje, at the moment, takes the heat for cricket cheats, it would be prudent to assume that players are not the only ones involved. Ever wondered where some of those really rough decisions that change the course of a test come from, and why?
Tony Ciprian, New Zealand

The game has lost all its glory. It would be really painful if somebody said the semi-final between South Africa and Australia was fixed. I think it would take quite a while in resurrecting the game which is in dire straits. Whoever, is convicted has literally sold his country for money and should be punished to the maximum extent possible.
S.Ravi Sivashankar, India/Singapore

I do not think that cricket would die away because of this scandal. The game is loved too much by too many for that to happen. For every kid who grows up in the sub-continent cricket is a way of life. The game is at it's purest form. Players who opt to take bribes should first consider that.
Prabhu Sivaraja, USA

The image of world cricket is tarnished, and there are a lot of issues responsible for this - not just Chris Lewis.

Asif Ashraf, England

The way that Chris Lewis has been treated by the cricket establishment and the media alike is disgraceful. Why do we English take exception to the possibility that our players could be involved in match fixing as well, not just Hansie Cronje and players from the sub-continent? Why any England player should feel under any more under suspicion than they are currently are (because of the Cronje revelations) is a mystery to me.
Asif Ashraf, England

The TCCB and the International test authorities should seek via the law courts to ban all betting on Cricket for the next 12 months until this entire miserably episode has been thoroughly investigated. The Bookmaker in the Cronje affair needs to be brought to book ASAP, along with all the other culprits. This affair should not be treated lightly.
Derek, ex-pat, Brazil

I think any cricketer who is found guilty in such case should be banned from playing International cricket for his whole life, that is the justice if he is using his talent the wrong way.
Chiks Patel, India / UK

Hansie Cronje was brave to admit to his guilt and he should be forgiven. He is a great cricketer and a captain.
Arlene Clements, Pakistan

A gentlemen's game? Don't make me laugh.

Craig Harry, England

The powers that be at Lords have used cricket to present themselves and their ilk as superior to the rest of the world (by any means necessary). Why do they insist that Team England shave regularly and wear fresh whites? Because now the hoi polloi in this country can no longer be bothered to go and fetch the ball for them, it's the only straw they have left to cling to.
Craig Harry, England

Since new evidence also confirms that South Africans were not foreigner to match fixing, and in that way if you look at the close finished matches which involved South Africa now, you really wonder whether they lost under the "Match Pressure or Money Pressure".
Shah, Japan

Hansie Cronje has only one way of surviving in international cricket arena. That is to become an Australian, agree to play for Australia, let ACB take a share of his match-fixing bribe in the form of a fine and admit to have been STUPID and NAIVE. This tactic has already proven to be very effective.
Don Rodrigo, Australia

It will be hard for Cricket to survive unless there are drastic changes in one day internationals.

Asif Ali, USA

Will Cricket Survive? is a million dollar question. The majority of people who love Cricket do not like to watch Test Matches, due to the length and lack of action. American sports take a short time for the result with maximum level of players' performance, besides everyone gets the chance to demonstrate their skills. If cricket has to survive and to get more people into it, they have to play 20 or 25 over matches in ODIs. This will not only boost the action, but also will have quick results and a lot of fun and excitement.
Asif Ali, USA

Is Hansie acting as the "fall guy" to cover up for someone higher up in the SA cricket hierarchy? This whole episode stinks of rotten fish!
Kathy Shewring, UK

Shed no tears. One jerk gone, several more to go. Long live Cricket, the honest way. Hail Indian Police for a good job no one on earth ever dared or cared to do!
Ananth Honasoge, USA

Why don't the cricket authorities recognise that there is bent money in cricket and use this opportunity to clean the game up once and for all. NO it will not harm cricket, it could make cricket even better!
Mark Gascoigne, Zimbabwe

A wolf in sheep's clothing! The fact that the official SA Cricket board engaged mud slinging on the great work done by the Indian Police, and backed "Hansie the great" makes one suspect there are other wolves in the cricket board itself. Dig in more, Delhi police! Bring out all the satans!
Balu, USA

I just wonder how people can be so "blind" in supporting a person who can sell the prestige of his nation?
Mukul Singh, India

The fact that bribes are accepted says everything about the people involved and nothing much about the sport.

Alan Cooke, UK

Cricket is a sport that will survive as long as people want to play and watch it. As a recreation it is not of "earth shattering" importance. But like all sports it reflects the values of the society in which it is played.
Alan Cooke, UK

Bring to light the Indian players involved in betting. The Indian authorities should not highlight themselves to be heroes in the eyes of the world by pinning down Crojne. There are others too, complete your task.
Mayank Johri, USA

The problem of betting and throwing away the matches has mainly occurred due to the sponsorship.

Gohar Latif, Pakistan

The players who have tried to malign the image of this gentleman's game should be taken by the scruff of the neck. The problem of betting and throwing away the matches has mainly occurred due to the sponsorship. The colossal amounts that the players receive at a very young age really blow them out of their minds.
The solution is to ban the one day cricket for at least a year and hold a full scale international inquiry of the players allegedly involved in this practice and ban them for good. Cricket is ashamed of such miscreants and so are the fans.
Gohar Latif, Pakistan

What has happened is a shameful event for the entire cricketing world. But is time to clean up the game. Hansie Cronje has done a lot of good for the game of cricket. To punish him severely as to ban him from playing cricket would a big mistake. Like all others who have admitted, I believe Hansie Cronje deserves another chance, another opportunity.
R K Mehta, India

Cricket will survive, but this should act as a wake up call to the game's administrators. This is symptomatic of what happens when sport becomes big business. Cricket, like Rugby has been poorly administered and the ICC should consider it's own position in light of the Cronje incident.
Cliff Nicholls, UK

What cricket needs is an international committee or commissioner with real power to investigate the game.

Michael H, UK

Baseball survived scandals like this and continued to thrive. What cricket needs is an international committee or commissioner with real power to investigate the game world-wide to allay the suspicion that the different countries are covering up the problem.
Michael H, UK

At last it is the white man who is the culprit in this game. All the chucking allegations on the players from the subcontinent were never proven. But their careers were destroyed, and the reputation of the players tarnished. Now whenever players from Australia or SA play, people will always be suspicious. For once the snake got bitten by it's own kind.
Sundar, US

I am of the view that enthusiasm for cricket being so great especially in the younger generation, the game will survive the present crisis after a clean-up operation.
J N Iyer, India & USA

The reputation of Cricket as a Gentleman's game has been severely tarnished

Derek Taylor, England

The reputation of Cricket as a Gentleman's game has been severely tarnished, but I believe that it will pull through. The one point that I hate is how everyone is making Hansie Cronje a scapegoat. There have been reports of other players in the past and in the present being involved in match fixing. Why is Hansie's incident the only one to hit the main headlines?
Derek Taylor, England

Well only a couple of things first of all the guilty have to be punished...really does not matter if that person is "Hansie Cronje". Secondly it smacks of racial lines being drawn in cricket where everyone from the subcontinent gets castigated and everyone from anywhere else e.g. Australia, South Africa get let off as they only "provided information about the pitch which does affect the game"
Mihir, India

After quite a turbulent week in international cricket, it seems that only Hansie Cronje himself knows the real facts. I think the world should wait till a thorough investigation has taken place before making a judgement. What Hansie Cronje did was wrong, but from what he himself has said, it seems that it is no worse than the earlier incident involving Mark Waugh and Shane Warne of Australia.
Shreyas Chandra, India

Hansie has done lots of good to South African cricket as well as cricket on the whole.

Venkataraman R, India, Chennai

Hansie has done lots of good to South African cricket as well as cricket on the whole. But I agree that what he has done is a grave mistake and has no excuse. For that he can be fined very heavily but ban for life is like capitol punishment for pick-pocketing. To make a mistake one need not have courage but to confess the mistake done, one should be very brave. Hope Hansie is back soon.
Venkataraman R, India, Chennai

I want to take this opportunity to congratulate the Indian police for their sincerity, courage. Hats of Indian Police for making the culprits face the inquiry especially when police in other countries failed to do so. Had the police in other countries done the same it would not have come to this stage. But this is a needed development. It will surely make the cricket "gentle men's game".
Mark, US

Why is it that whenever Australia is about to play a tough series, something comes up in the cricket world? Either it is someone offering bribes to the Aussies or some bowler chucking and now this Hansie being suspended for forecasting some match. If I remember correctly, weren't two Australians just fined for the same offence by their board? Come on ICC wake up and make some rules that are applicable to all the cricket nations. Don't let the Boards do what ever they want do, make them do what is right.
Mansur Shah, Pakistan

I am glad that the Indian cops nailed this guy, Cronje. It appeared very surprising that the SA establishment doubted the tapes/investigation and everything else about the case from India. And then they said Cronje deceived them. But they still seem to believe that the other three players are not involved, because Cronje said so!
Sashi, USA

I think this incident will indeed bring some life to cricket. It all depends on the ICC and leading cricket boards.

Ahmed, USA

I think this incident will indeed bring some life to cricket. It all depends on the ICC and leading cricket boards. This is the time when Indian, Pakistani, Australian and south African Cricket heads need to sit down and decide their priorities i.e. money in a short run or grace in the long run.
Ahmed, USA

It would be surprising if corruption did not exist in most sports which have prime-time coverage by SKY TV. Perhaps the sport-loving Mr. Murdoch will refuse to cover teams found guilty of corruption?
Chris Liston, New Zealand

I feel sad that players like Cronje, whom we all held in highest esteem, can shatter our faith. Whom to believe now? But he has been sincere and accepted his mistakes. I pray Indian players, involved in such shady deals, will display the same courage now and will accept their guilt.
DK Sardana, India

Saying that cricket as a game is in crisis is, I think, very misleading. Though under appreciated in England, the sport remains one of the most popular around the world, and that won't change. After all, no one is suggesting that the popularity of football is threatened by the current Nottingham Forrest law suit against a referee who confessed to fixing a European cup match.
Iain Ware, UK/USA

Most Pakistanis don't trust any Indian claims but this time they proved that sometimes they are right. However, I think this scandal will either clean up cricket or it will same as before and the only change will be is that they will be more careful next time and demand more money for the risks they are taking.
Bilal Yousaf, Pakistan

Hansie should spend rest of his life teaching cricket to subcontinent kids, whose enthusiasm is keeping cricket alive. That is the only way for him to undo his mistake.
Mayur, India/Japan

As a fan of Hansie I cannot come to terms with what has happened. So much is out of "character", Hansie did not need the money. Also there are so many out of context issues: Do police just stumble upon conversations?
The Hansie issue IS NOT an isolated issue, there is far more to this than what we are lead to believe. I remain a Hansie fan, I wish him well and I believe that the truth will be known.
Isabel, South Africa

We might as well ignore the new issue of that noble publication Wisden.

Michael Slade, UK

Cricket will survive, I hope, if only because millions of people round the world play the game every weekend for fun with no thought of money. But who can they look up to when this happens? Who knows how far it has gone?
We might as well ignore the new issue of that noble publication Wisden insofar as it reports international matches, for unbeknown to the editors and to the rest of us many could have been fixed. Imran Khan is absolutely right, we should have an independent, global enquiry into this, and let's bring in someone respected from outside the game, a statesman or a judge who is impartial and will be firm. It's very depressing.
Michael Slade, UK

I fail to understand how Hansie could even think of accepting any money, this is a highly respected man, of integrity. Anyway I suppose it's time to expose everything, it's a shame though for South African cricket, which was undoubtedly the BEST CRICKET TEAM IN THE WORLD!!!!!
Drey, South Africa

I think it is very harsh that they have sacked him.

Catherine, UK

I agree with Chris, UK. I was extremely upset to hear the allegations about Hansie. I think it is very harsh that they have sacked him. I know he is the captain and should know better but remember Shane Warne and Mark Waugh? They were also guilty of the same offence maybe worse and all they got was a fine.
I don't think he should have been sacked. I give my full support to Hansie and I am sure this is probably the first time he has done this. All I want to know if WHY did he do it? Personally I think he was set up.
Catherine, UK

This is the first time that "match fixing" has taken place and someone's been caught. Every sport has its problems, just because Cricket has got a reputation for being an "upper class" sport (which is nonsense) this is being blown out of all proportion.
Fair enough it needs to be stamped out quickly but to talk about banning Cronje from playing again is rubbish. Take George Graham for instance, he took a well documented "bung" and he is still in management.
Jim Crapnell, England

The recent events neither surprised, nor saddened me. They are simply a reflection of the current values of cricket.

Mick, UK

Cricket has long been tarnished beyond repair.
By sledging. By blatant cheating on-pitch.
By win at all costs (including integrity).
By ponderously slow reactions by those in control to changing circumstances.
By woefully inept organisation.
The recent events neither surprised, nor saddened me. They are simply a reflection of the current values of cricket.
Mick, UK

It beats me how people can get so wound up about a game which is the only rival to the World Glue Drying Championships!
To be quite honest, I hope it gives cricket a whack on the head and as a result it never regains consciousness. At least we can then focus on issues in our country that deserve time and concern.
Mike, Derby, UK

Fish caught! What about the sharks?
Srikant B N, India

Even Shane Warne and Mark Waugh have done the same thing in past and when they can be excused, why can't we excuse Hansie???
Coner Smith, Australia

This is spoiling the game that we all love to watch.

Daniel Ellis, England

This needs to be investigated at the very highest level because this is spoiling the game that we all love to watch. Hansie Cronje if found guilty should be banned for life from playing cricket again and set an example to the rest of the players.
Daniel Ellis, England

Let's not hope that yet another media trial is sweeping us. Cricket always gives the benefit of the doubt. Give the guy a break until he is proven guilty.
Farhan Samad, Pakistan

Being white does not exclude him from the Crime Club.

Vaishnavi, Guyana

Cronje comes from a country with a high crime rate. Being white does not exclude him from the Crime Club. I am glad the New Delhi police stood their ground. However that bit of justice does not balance the hurt cricket fans feel when thinking of the whole carry on. Cronje was one of my favourite players. I am 13 years old and have lived all over the world, even in South Africa. At my age may I ask one question? Whither integrity?
Vaishnavi, Guyana

In Hansie Cronje I found a sporting hero - my faith in human nature has been scuppered.
Carolyn, UK

I feel that there is more to this than what we have been told so far. I cannot believe that Hansie would have done what he is accused of for such a paltry amount - he may be naive and gullible but I can't believe he is stupid.
Janine, South Africa

I can see him hosting seminars for governmental ministers entitled "How to do it and not get caught".

Simone Robinson, South Africa

I have no doubt that Hansie will be back. Probably not as a cricket player but perhaps a motivational speaker. Being a cynic I can see him hosting seminars for governmental ministers entitled "How to do it and not get caught". SA's win over Australia last night is a shining example of the strength of our cricket team and the passion they have for the game.
Simone Robinson, South Africa

It is agreed that what Hansie did was bad. But, my question is "IS only Hansie responsible for this?". The ICC, and other cricket boards (especially Indian & Pakistan) knew about match fixing stuff for 10 years. Aren't they responsible for not taking any actions
Also, what about Mark Waugh & Warnie case. They were let off easily. So, why only Hansie held responsible for all the damage to cricketing community?
Kaustubh Shenoy, India

Ban Hansie for Life! It was too premature of us in SA to doubt the competence of an Indian investigating agency. We have been let down. Is Hansie trying to escape saying he only provided information on the players and pitch?
Kavin Strauss, South Africa

Let us not forget, though, that the allegations of match fixing have not yet been proved.

Chris, UK

As someone who was brought up in South Africa, I am still a great fan of the Proteas, and I am just as stunned by this affair as everyone else seems to be. Let us not forget, though, that the allegations of match fixing have not yet been proved, and even in South Africa a man is still innocent until proven guilty. The misdemeanour to which Hansie has admitted (giving information about the team) is deserved of a hefty fine and perhaps a suspension, but surely not the end of his career? Let us wait for the results of the inquiry before we condemn anyone.
Chris, UK

Cricket has probably changed beyond retreat (i.e. going back). The South African scandal may hurt the people involved but the publicity may benefit Cricket; you never know. It's a great game, one of the best ever conceived by man, and as long as it remains a challenge men will play it. Anyway, what's the alternative? Replace it with Baseball, ugh!
Roger Sayer, USA

Once again gambling has surfaced in the world of cricket. It's not a new problem. It was always around. Remember accusations against Pakistan, Australia & India?
Sami ur Rahman, USA

The game is bigger than the player. Baseball survived the Black sox scandal and Pete Rose betting. Cricket will survive Hansie Cronje. What surprises me however, is the amount of money he accepted. A lousy $15,000 US. Are our cricketers, even someone as popular as Cronje, paid so little that such a small amount would cause a man to even contemplate throwing a game?
Mohamed Z. Rahaman, USA via Guyana

It will be a long time before the game warrants Frank Woolley's description of the "King of Games"

John Marshall, Australia

The great tragedy now is that in the future, every win/loss in a very close game is going to cause fans to wonder if it was all above board. Professional players before the 1970's must wonder what else present test/one day players want in addition to their large salaries and match payments. It will be a long time before the game warrants Frank Woolley's description of the "King of Games"
John Marshall, Australia

I completely agree with Vijay Ojha. I really hope that this incident will wane interest in a sport that has completely engulfed the Indian psyche. Other sports like soccer, hockey and basketball will hopefully receive encouragement. The earlier the demise of this "pseudo-sport" that has extolled a lot of our time and energy the better. Cricket is dead. Long live the "gentlemen"
Krish, USA-India

The Indian Police is vindicated by subsequent developments. Cronje's own admission of guilt is sufficient. However there may be others who would adopt the now familiar tactics of interpretation, Accepting the money: forecasting" and the fact he has kept the money but "did not deposit it" etc will be used in the best Clintonian tactics. One does not have to go to Yale Law School. Whatever happens, the saddest thing happened: They branded Indian Police as inefficient; they went to the extent of saying the tapes were doctored; and finally the call came for snapping ties with India!
TK Jayaraman, Fiji

How pathetic that even after apartheid has been formally disbanded in South Africa, the response from the good old "white folks" there has been one to criticise first the Delhi police and then question the tapping of phones. Even now there is disappointment but not appreciation for the way the "non-white" police in Delhi have handled this affair. I say hats off to the Indian authorities to nail down the culprit, albeit a "super white man" Cronje.
John White, UK

I feel that ICC should have more control over the game. They are the weakest body among all sports governing authorities. Also, there should be a limit on number of ODIs. There are so many irrelevant matches played nowadays. ICC should also go ahead with its proposed plan of test world cup because who knows this might spread to test matches too.
Ashish, USA-India

Time will heal the wounds on a classic game like cricket. One should only hope that the greed for dishonest money will vanish in any kind of sport in the near future.
Venkatesh, USA

The questions are rife? What are we to believe are fair results? How far does this go back? What of the world cup?

Martin Paul, South Africa

South Africans are sports crazy and regard their cricket stars as celebrities. I listened to 4 hours of talk radio last night and witnessed the disbelief and anguish of the callers in a team they trusted and believed in. The questions are rife? What are we to believe are fair results? How far does this go back? What of the world cup? Let the truth be told and all those on the take be exposed...
Martin Paul, South Africa

For shame, Hansie Conned-you! What I find more shameful are the reports on BBC yesterday (4/11/00) extolling Hansie's honesty, integrity and Christianity - And this AFTER he had admitted being dishonest! As long as this "good old boy" attitude survives, cricket is doomed. Clean it up. Let not cads and bounders retain their caps just because their name happen to be Waugh or Warne or Cronje. Roll a few heads to send the message. Permanent disqualification is essential. Kick the rogues OUT of the gentleman's game.
Alekh Bhurke, USA (ex India)

It just beat's me "The Confession of Hansie Cronje" - Why blow the lid so fast - is he trying to save the other 3 team-mates. All in all - I will say that he has the guts to stand up and face the music. He was a true captain in good times and now in this crises. Forget the world - He is and will always be my favourite player.
Arks, UAE

Who cares? We are only talking about a deathly dull "sport" which 99% of the world has no interest in. The newspaper space given over to this incident is quite unbelievable, especially considering the real corruption which is rife in the African continent and is causing people untold hardship.
Danny Forrest, Sweden

Greater transparency and tighter controls will hopefully be enforced, by the administrator who have been dragging their feet.

Ravi, Virginia, USA

I believe that what has happened is good for cricket. Greater transparency and tighter controls will hopefully be enforced, by the administrator who have been dragging their feet. I believe that the ICC should institute a committee to look into the entire match-fixing affair going down a decade and not be looking at making Cronje the goat at the altar. Let us not become the soothsayer who predicted the doomsday of cricket. Cricket will most likely thrive in the longer run. The tragedy of this affair, has been the image of Cronje. He had a genuine chance of becoming the greatest captain of all times. Instead he will be labelled as the 'match fixing captain'. The BBC has already labelled him a fallen hero. I hope he does not get discouraged by all that is happening around him. Come on Cronje, fight on.
Ravi, Virginia, USA

I feel desperately sorry for SA cricket, However, what can be said is well done at finding and rooting out the seeds of deception. At least this will pave the way for future investigations and send a clear message that even the greatest can not get away with this sort of thing
Scott G Beckett, Zimbabwe

Well For one the comments posted above from one Mr Vijay Ojha are particularly disturbing. Sport - people view the watching world over not as a waste of time. In fact sports are an expression of faith, beliefs desires and intentions. It seems my dear friends truly does not like sport of any kind
Vishal, USA

Thank God Hansie accepted his crime and dishonesty

Rajeev A, USA/India

Thank God Hansie accepted his crime and dishonesty as the people and officials of South Africa were not willing to accept any accusation against their hero. The officials including Bacher had labelled Indian police foolish even before making any kind of inquiry at their end.
Rajeev A, USA/India

No doubt cricket has lost its flavour due to this incidence, but it's such a huge game, it is capable of surviving many such types of shocks. Once the culprits are brought to justice the game will regain its status.
Dinesh Saini, India

Everybody has their price, but $15k is pathetic! Mine's $20MM on a one-time only opportunity! As I am most unlikely to be presented with an opportunity, I think I'll just stay honest ... less trouble in the long run. Cricket will recover!
Mark M. Newdick, USA/UK

If Cronje was at it then they probably all are.

Nick, UK

Who cares about the results of all these meaningless one day internationals anyway? They have become so irrelevant that I suspect the players think likewise, and see them as a good opportunity to earn a fast buck from disreputable bookmakers. If Cronje was at it then they probably all are.
Nick, UK

The game is DEAD! And death is beyond repair...
Rohan Suri, India/Singapore

Hansie Cronje, if proven guilty of accepting bribes, should never play cricket again. However if he has accepted money for giving information he is a fool, yes, but should not have to shoulder such a burden. The ICC must have a full, open enquiry.
Will Ashby, UK

I am still confident that we can still make cricket a gentleman's game.

Dr S Sridhar, USA

I have played a lot of good level cricket in India and the UK. I am disappointed to hear this damaging news and this has been quite wide spread throughout several countries. I am still confident that we can still make cricket a gentleman's game if we are honest to ourselves at least.
Dr S.Sridhar, USA

I would just like to say that the reporting of this whole affair has been extremely biased. Before Hansie Cronje's admission, media reports in the West (and SA) assumed that it had to be a hoax or a mix up by the Indian police with some less than complimentary attacks on them and Indians in general by certain sections in South Africa (we all know who they are!).
Now even after his confession, the media in the West (and SA) is very reluctant to condemn him instead preferring to focus on various cronies' comments on how terrible a problem illegal betting is in the Indian subcontinent.
Peter Odinga, UK

South Africa is the crime capital of the world, and it is strange that the whole world seems surprised when a South African commits the crime this 30-year-old sportsman has committed. The only question is whether the comical run-out in the WC Semi-final including Kleusener & Donald was genuine?
The SA Cricket Team is truly representative of South Africa with its members involved in crimes such as the one Hansi Con Yeah has just confessed to.
J Mansfield, South Africa

Hopefully this will pave the way for tighter controls and financial scrutiny of all players.

Asif Khan, England

I think this is the BEST thing that has happened to cricket since the "Packer affair". Finally after years of speculation we at last have proper evidence of wrongdoings in the game, and hopefully this will pave the way for tighter controls and financial scrutiny of all players and associated parties.
The authorities should seize on this opportunity to implement radical measures to ensure that such irregularities are not repeated within the game of cricket. I think another factor that needs to be considered is the volume of cricket being played, it appears that the current high workloads on all international players is beginning to exhibit adverse effects. What we need is quality not quantity, and this needs to be properly addressed by the ICC.
Asif Khan, England

I believe this is a god sent opportunity to India. By conservative estimates, 400 million Indians are affected when a cricket match is played. They are either hooked to their TV sets, radio or the Internet. Now they know it is not about excitement any more and they are witnessing a drama, scripted by few punters. I believe that a minimum of 200 million Indians will lose interest, therefore, 200m X 8 = 1600m i.e. 1.6 billion person-hours a day could be channelled to other constructive activities.
Vijay Ojha, UK/India

Serious times call for serious measures.

Karl Newson, England

Cricket can survive this troubled period. However, for this to happen the game must be cleansed of all possible benefits to those who may prosper if matches can be fixed. This obviously means a complete ban on match betting and especially spread betting.
Additionally, the game's highest authorities must clarify the rules regarding the role of players, coaches and umpires who are paid as "experts and consultants" to outside agencies. Serious times call for serious measures.
Karl Newson, England

Cricket shall survive even this. There have been allegations at times that certain matches are or have been fixed. This time it has been more focused and the truth has been stumbled upon. In spite of this cricket lovers will continue to take interest in the game since it is said that old habits die hard.
R.S.Iyer, Bahrain

Hats off to Delhi police for having the courage to stand behind their discovery. Shame to the media and the press for siding with people who are always given the benefit of doubt and made a star by them. Time not to clean up and not cover up
Ganesh Sundarajan, Canada

When a white man accuses some Pakistani team members of similar crimes, those allegations are true before the investigations were complete. When an Asian country accuses a white man of the same, the other white players talk of nothing but the accused man's integrity?
Mel Chand, USA-India

Return to the top of the page

---

Send us your comments:

Name:

Your E-mail Address:

Country:

Your Phone Number: (if you wish to take part in the programme; your number will not appear online)

Your comments:

Disclaimer: The BBC will use as many of your questions as possible but we cannot guarantee that all e-mails will be published. The BBC reserves the right to edit comments that are published.