Is there a solution to the problem of match-fixing?

new delhi: the first step in finding a solution to any problem is to accept that we have a problem on hand. yes, we have. the match-fixing scandal has frayed the fabric of international cricket in a such a way that it needs more than just a hasty stitch. are there any solutions around? cricket is money. like the celebrated question by channel nine's kerry packer, "all of us have a bit of whore in us.so gentlemen, (cricketers) what's your price?" bookies asked cricketers that packer question. the whole thrust is on money. why are cricketers falling prey to the bookies' baits? are cricketers being paid so poorly? of course not. but as the case goes with money, the more you have, the more you want. an indian cricketer makes rs 90,000 per one-day international and rs 1 lakh for a test. by indian earning averages, it's a lot of money. obviously, our cricketers are not starving, and they are not likely to, even after they stop playing. all the same, who would say no say to more? manipulation by bookies means that players perform below par. it means that a bookie can offer a batsman money to score less than his scoring averages suggest. same is true for bowlers. a bowler who has the reputation of keeping it tight can take money from a bookie to bowl a bit untidy to help the rival scoring side. they do it, if at all they do it, for that extra lucre for having a bad day when they get hardly anything right. betting by itself is a negative aspect of the game. so can we counter it, by giving cricketers the positive option of not performing below par? the board of control for cricket in india (bcci) can come up with an incentive system where apart from the assured match fee, a player gets extra rewards for his performance. let's say a batsman stands to get rs 25,000 for scoring a minimum of 25 runs (with a strike rate condition in place) and an increase in reward correspondingly. bowlers can also be rewarded by the same principle. a bowler who does not give more than 3.5 runs per over (with a minimum of four overs) standing to gain rs 25,000 and a minimum of two wickets again adding more coins to the bowlers' kitty. such a system offers enough incentives for players to optimise their performance. the downside is that players, in any case, are expected to give their best for the team. so should they be paid extra for doing what they are supposed to do? we have to view the system in its perspective. it is not long ago when brian lara led west indies cricketers' revolt against the west indies cricket board over pay dispute. in australia, the players association did bargain for a better deal with australian cricket board last year. and england cricketers' association reached an agreement with the english cricket board only last week over payments. it is only in india the cricket board does not have to face the bargaining power of a players' association. the factor of insecurity that prevails in indian cricket team is another vindication of the need for an incentive system. life at the international circuit is so short a candle that every player is on the lookout for more financial benefits. but then eventually it is left to the cricketers themselves to strike a balance between greed and need, and to rein in their vaulting ambitions. they will also do well to remember that they cannot besmirch the game and still hope to be its stars. all for their own survival. the possible structure of the incentives batting incentives score of 25 (in less than 40 balls) rs 25,000 score of 50 (in less than 70 balls) rs 50,000 score of 75 (in less than 100 balls) rs 75,000 score of 100 (in less than 115 balls) rs 1,00,000 score of 150 (in less than 170 balls) rs 1,50,000 score of 200 (in less than 210 balls) rs 2,00,000 bowling incentives two wickets with an average of 4.00 runs per over rs 25,000 three wickets with an average of 4.00 runs per over rs 50,000 four wickets with an average of 3.5 runs per over rs 75,000 five wickets with an average of 4.00 runs per over rs 1,00,000 five wickets with an average of 3.00 runs per over rs 1,50,000 six wickets with an average of 3 runs per over rs 2,00,000 fielding incentives five victims (catches+stumpings) in a match by wicketkeeper rs 75,000 five victims (catches+direct throws) in a match by a fielder rs 1,00,000 four victims in a match by wicketkeeper rs 50,000 four victims in a match by a fielder rs 75,000 three victims in a match by a fielder rs rs 50,000 two victims in a match by a fielder rs 30,000