Waugh talk: Threat of match-fixing alive

Dubai: Australia cricket legend Steve Waugh believes the threat of match-fixing is still very much alive in the modern game.

In a frank chat with XPRESS before attending The Chivas Legends Dinner in Dubai, the former Aussie skipper said: “I think it would be naïve to say it’s not happening. I guess there are still a few rumours around the place particularly in the Twenty20 stuff.

“It’s up to the authorities to make sure it’s not happening. But human nature would suggest that if people are tempted by big money, then there’s going to be a chance that it still might be happening. It would be silly to say it’s not [present] in sport because there’s a lot of money. And where there’s money there’s temptation,” Waugh added.

However, the “Ice Man” as Waugh was commonly known, fiercely backed Pakistan’s Younus Khan who resigned as captain after a National Assembly committee accused his side of deliberately underperforming in the Champions Trophy. Younus, who has since received the Pakistan Cricket Board’s backing, came under fire for dropping Grant Elliot in the semi-final. Waugh said: “I’ve watched a lot of cricket and it was pretty obvious it was an accidental dropped catch.

“I think they should have been celebrating him. He won the Twenty20 World Cup and got to the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy.

“With the inexperienced team they had and the lack of cricket they’ve had, those were two great results.

“So for someone to come out and say they threw the game was irresponsible and a reckless comment. Every time they lose or drop a catch unfortunately they link it to what Salim Malik and some others did. I felt sorry for him because I think he’s a good leader.”

Waugh also leapt to the defence of Australian skipper Ricky Ponting following a second Ashes defeat as captain, but said the dashing batsman would ultimately be the best judge of his position.

“I think overall he’s done very well,” said Waugh, adding: “As long as you have the respect of the players, you’re the right man for the job.

“He’s still got the passion, he’s very hungry to play the game, but at the end of the day he’s the one that will know himself if he’s still the right man for the job or not.”