The lure of easy money too strong for some to resist

The T20 league has only made the players more greedy. Before 2008, the domestic players were not exposed to the kind of money that is on offer now. But they weren't getting paid less.

The Indian domestic league was termed as the best thing to happen to world cricket, not just to India. But it’s soon turning into a monster created by the Indian cricket board.

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Like the hen that laid the golden egg, the T20 league has only made the players more greedy. Before 2008, the domestic players were not exposed to the kind of money that is on offer now. But they weren't getting paid less.

In 2004-05, the BCCI opened its purse strings to first-class cricketers as well. A player, if he appeared in all the matches for his state team for a two-and-half month period, took home anywhere between Rs 11 to Rs 12 lakh, that is a daily remuneration of Rs 35,000. That was a time, when a player’s aspiration was to play for his state team and stake a claim for an India cap.

Things have changed manifold now. The cash-rich T20 league has changed the life of cricketers, some for better and the rest of worse.

At 29, Ajit Chandila knew his chances of playing for India were remote. He might not have even got another T20 league contract he woul've felt. It's these thoughts that may have driven him to opt for a shortcut. Even someone like Ankeet Chavan, despite having his best domestic season and being a part of a Ranji Trophy winning team, can get lured by the easy money and peer pressure.

Chavan’s Mumbai Ranji coach Sulakshan Kulkarni said that any player could be vulnerable to the menace. “Players falling prey to fixing and corruption changes from individual to individual. The two Chavan and Chandila) played for the same corporate team and also shared the dressing room in the T20 league. What relationship they shared and their influence on each other can lead to such transgressions,” Kulkarni said.