Ban match-fixers for life, says Murali

TEAMtalk Media | 14 October, 2012 12:161 Comments

Muttiah Muralitharan of Wellington watches from the boundary as Auckland fields during the HRV Cup round one match between the Auckland Aces and the Wellington Firebirds at Colin Maiden Park on December 18, 2011 in Auckland, New Zealand
Image by: Sandra Mu / Getty Images

Former Sri Lanka spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is of the opinion that anyone caught match-fixing should be banned from cricket for life, not just for a few years.

The issue of corruption in cricket was at the forefront this past week after a sting operation by an Indian TV station allegedly showed six umpires agreeing to fix games. Those officials have been suspended while the ICC investigate the claims.

But while Murali feels that corrupt players and umpires should be kicked to the curb, he doesn't think the entire game is at risk, saying there will always be a few 'bad eggs' in any profession.

The 40-year-old told Reuters: "Definitely, people that do these things should be punished for life. They, at any level, should not be tolerated.

"I think the ICC are doing the right thing...if they are found guilty, they will definitely be punished. I think they (the ICC) are doing the right things but there are always bad eggs in everything.

"In society there are good people and bad people and it has always been like that, but fortunately they get caught so that means cricket is getting cleaner and cleaner.

"I think ICC are doing a lot of education (programmes for players). Cricket boards, match referees, management (are also) educating, so there is enough education."