12:50pm Thursday 2nd September 2010
By Readers' letters
LIKE most of us, I was shocked to learn of the cricket scandal, and the suggestion that players were willing to cheat during a match.
However, these young men come from a country where crippling poverty is the norm, where any chance to make extra cash may be grabbed, however irregular this may be.
The true villains are the low life who allegedly offered money to the players, knowing they would be tempted beyond endurance.
I have no idea what sort of money is paid to cricketers in that corrupt country, but I would bet my life it is peanuts against the obscene sums paid to cricketers from other countries, including our own.
Of course, they should be punished for their sins, but they are no more guilty than the many in this country who think they are entitled to cheat the benefit system. “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone” is a telling phrase, often forgotten when we condemn weakness in others.
Heather Causnett, Escrick Park Gardens, Escrick, York.
• THERE is a lot of interest in the alleged crimes of the Pakistan players, but there appears to be one gigantic omission from the condemnations being published.
Offences of this nature require at least two parties – the receiver of the money and the paymaster. This is not the first occasion in which this publication appears to have caused a crime to be committed.
To the best of my knowledge, this is conspiracy and carries a mandatory prison sentence on conviction. I cannot understand why the News Of The World and its staff and management have not been prosecuted.
There appears to be another conspiracy here.
K Barnes, North View, Catterton.
• NOT for the first time, Pakistani cricket stands accused of the most serious charges of bad behaviour, cheating, corruption and bringing the great game of cricket into disrepute. This time it is of illegal betting practices and trying to obtain gains from betting organisations via fraudulent actions.
If these allegations are proven, all of the accused must be banned for life, and Pakistan should be suspended from the ICC for several years, as a suitable punishment and as a deterrent to anyone else thinking of pursuing such vile actions.
David Quarrie, Lynden Way, Holgate, York.
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