(I meant to post this as a comment to Amrita’s review, but for some reason that facility is not working... so here goes.)
I agree that Azhar will almost surely go down in history as being the Judas who sold the nation than for his pyrotechnics on the cricket field. But then I feel it is deservedly so. All Azhar’s humility and grace on the cricket field will not compensate for the enormous fraud he is party of.
Cricket is a religion in India and its sporting icons are our Gods. While we are pathetic in almost every other sport, it is in cricket that we have a semblance of being competitive with the best. When India wins against any other nation, I feel good about my country and about myself. It is for this reason that we give these cricketers so much respect and place them on high pedestals. It is only understandable that we are outraged when these ’Gods’ sell out for a few pots of gold. Amrita’s example of comparing Azhar’s morals with a politician’s is like saying ’’It’s ok that my wife is sleeping around, everybody does so nowadays...’’
And coming to it, WHY is that we Indians are so complacent in reactions when it comes to corruption? It may have been happening for ages, but it bloody well stop now! Which is why, when anyone, in any walk of life is given the stick for corruption - it warrants a cheer for the enforcer, not condonement or justification for the guilty.
I agree that Azhar’s indictment may hide a few larger skeletons in the cupboard (like people who shed tears on TV and hide money in their sports lockers), but that is another story. The BCCI/CBI should fully probe into allegations of Kapil Dev’s and Sunny’s alleged shady deals, but that is no reason to justify Azhar’s fraud.
Sorry to be preachy, but that’s me, sometimes....