Bangalore, Aug 17: Legendary New Zealand cricketer Richard Hadlee today said that players who are involved in fixing should not only be banned but their records should also be erased to serve as a deterrent against this menace.
“People have to be made examples of and clearly banned, even take it a step further, even have your records erased for life in the game, I think that is the most severe penalty that can happen even more than going to jail is to have your record erased from the game, if it needs to go to that stage then players are going to think twice before they,” Hadlee told reporters here.
Hadlee said players who involved in making illegal money let supporters and fans down and “that’s why the penalty must be very severe.”
Any such decision, Hadlee said, lies with the administrators who should consider other options to deal with fixers.
Asked about the controversial Decision Review System, the Kiwi all-rounder said that he was not in favour of technology as it questions on-field umpires’ decision.
“My personal view is that I don’t particularly like the captains or players questioning or reviewing the decisions … What I would like is that all the decisions should remain in the hands of the umpires,” he said.
“If the umpires in the middle have made a not out decision say when it’s in fact out, the power should go the third umpire; he should say ‘hang on a minute, let me look at it’ while the bowler is going back to his mark and if there is a genuine mistake is made, the third umpire can review it,” said Hadlee, who took 431 wickets in 86 Tests.
Hadlee further said the third umpire’s decision would take players out of the decision-making process “and all they have to do is to just get on with the game.”
He expressed concern about the decline of his national team in the Tests, who are currently ranked ninth in the ICC table and attributed it to playing less number of matches.
“That doesn’t sit comfortably with me because I am a traditionalist in many ways,” he said. (PTI)
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