The New Nation - Internet Edition

Asif (of Pakistan) has lastly been charged of taking drug when playing in the IPL (Indian Premier League) T20 matches. IPL authorities disclosed this high sensitive drug-related news a couple of days back.

Earlier Asif was arrested at Dubai Airport with suspected materials (drug category) on his journey to home (Pakistan) from India on conclusion of IPL T20 games. He was in detention there for long 19 days before going back to Pakistan.

In fact, drug-scandal is nothing new in cricket (and other games and sports) now. However, with the rise of income (in terms of salary, bonus and endorsement earnings) of the star cricketers the incidences of drug, wines, sex and book-making or game fixing have gone high.

These crimes have increased at such a scale that no country is virgin now.

The great Australian spinner Shane Warne is much better known for his record involvement in all such sex and drug. Warne's wife dislodged their wedding knot for his repeated sex scam for over a decade. The Indian selectors have also been accused for selecting 'boys' taking 'salami' (bribe) in the National squad.

All these act of vices together has paved the way of indiscipline in the body of this gentlemen's game - the cricket. Now cricketers are more undisciplined in their personal and team behaviour (take the case of Ashraful of Bangladesh).

Some say this is the fallout the big-money induction in the game. May be, they are not fully wrong.

While others believe that it has not yet gone out of control. What is needed to stop/debar drugs from cricket is the real sincerity of the cricket controlling bodies - ICC and the National Boards of the Cricket playing countries. They should jointly say 'no' to drug and go by the rules of this traditionally clean game.

Let us hope for a drug free cricket world soon.

Abu Musa Miah

Lalbagh, Dhaka