JUSTICE-MUDGAL-IPL-PROBE-COMMITTEE-REPORT-final-feb-8

JUSTICE MUDGAL IPL PROBE COMMITTEE 201475“It’s not difficult to understand this close,undying loyalty. To be a member of a nationalteam involves admission to a brotherhood that isbased on staunch allegiance. The players in thenational squad spend something in the order of26 weeks of the year in each other’s company.That time sees them living, travelling and eatingtogether practicing at the nets for hours on end,day after day; venturing into distant countriesand cities where the only familiar faces are thoseof their team members. Teamwork and teamspirit is the bedrock of their lives…”Further,“But the same strong and abiding loyalty to theteam and to the captain creates a series ofproblems when any of the players decide, asCronje did, to involve themselves and attempt toinvolve their team members in things like matchfixing or other forms of corruption. The squaddoesn’t turn its back on the sinner, throw himout or cut him down. Their entire existence isabout being together, remaining loyal andhelping each other. Blowing the whistle on theoffender is against team spirit. In the eyes of theplayers, the newspaper reporters, cricketadministrators and the team’s medical staff are