AFVOA Newsletter of Year 2021

Section 6 - Memoirs CV 2 No. 01 / 2021 Page 63 of 123 Dharma: “you were aware that this would go against the spirit of the game? Bull: “Yes – that was so. But then we were agitated and felt that we would not be caught. We planned to do everything on the quiet – but then we did not think that the TV coverage would focus on Bangers to the extent that they did.” Dharma thoughtfully analysed all the evidence that he had gathered and then pronounced Bull was also guilty. And in view of the fact that he was far more experienced than Bangers and was part of the leadership, he deserved a more severe punishment than Bangers. Hence, he opined that Bull should be suspended for a minimum of two years, forfeit the match fee and a hefty monetary penalty also be levied on him. Smudge, who was also the captain of the team, was next on the list to be inquired. Dharma spent considerable time with Smudge. He repeatedly asked Smudge: “Who were all involved in this murky affair.” “Only the three of us.” “Cricket is a team game. Hence all the players and the coach, and other support staff would also be in the know of this plan?” Smudge vehemently denied this allegation: “No Sir. No one else was involved. We in the leadership – Bull and self-decided that the plan should be purely on a ‘need to know’ basis. The more members got the information, there were greater chances of the beans being spilt, before the execution. And we purposely picked on Bangers as he had not played too many matches and hence was most likely to join us in the conspiracy. He like the good youngster that he is, was thrilled to take part in the mysterious affair.” Dharma: “You are an experienced player and have been a good captain of the team. You were certainly aware that what you were planning to do was not in the spirit of the game?” Smudge: “The way that we were playing, there was no way that we were going to defeat SA in this test. This was a last-ditch effort. Unfortunately, the TV display played spoil sport.” “Thank you, Smudge.”