Cricket ‘Fixed’ Time and Again
Zeenews logo
        English        
Follwo us on: Facebook Follwo us on: Twiter RSS Mail to us
Thursday, May 31, 2012 
Jobs | Sitemap
Search
Follwo us on: Facebook Follwo us on: Twiter RSS Mail to us Mail to us Mail to us

Cricket ‘Fixed’ Time and Again

Last Updated: Wednesday, May 16, 2012, 16:07
views 1482 Comments 12  
Cricket ‘Fixed’ Time and AgainAs the latest ‘spot-fixing’ controversy hits cricket once again, let us remind ourselves that this is not the first time that the game has been haunted by this ‘menacing demon’.

Here is a peek into the past, where we’ll see, when and how the devil of ‘match-fixing’ marred the face of cricket time and again!

April 7, 2000 – The first blow!
Skipper Hansie Cronje, in particular, and several other Proteas players were charged by the Delhi police for fixing South Africa’s ODIs against India in March for money. Transcripts of an alleged conversation between Cronje and Sanjay Chawla, an Indian businessman (who was suggested to be a bookie) were released. Players like Herschelle Gibbs, Pieter Strydom and Nicky Boje were alleged to have taken money from Chawla. Cronje, however, rubbished the entire issue.

April 11, 2000 – ‘Yes, I did it’
After a lot of denial, Cronje finally confessed to Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) managing director, Ali Bacher, that he “had been dishonest” over his activities in India. Cronje said that he received USD 10,000 to 15,000 for “providing information and forecast but not match-fixing” during the one-day series in India. The CSA, thereafter, sacked Cronje.

April 20, 2000 – Umpiring alterations?
South African umpires Cyril Mitchley and Rudi Koertzen made a sensational claim that they too were offered money to influence results of matches at different points of time.

April 28, 2000 – CBI probe in India ordered!
Looking at the condition of international cricket then, the Indian government ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe if any Indian cricketer or official was involved in match-fixing.

April 30, 2000 – Limelight on Sri Lanka!
The Sunday Times revealed that three Sri Lankan players, namely, Roshan Mahanama, Asanka Gurusinha and Sanath Jayasuriya, were approached during the 1992 Australian tour of Sri Lanka by some Indian bookmakers. Reports claimed that the players were offered money to leak information about the match. They, however, refused to cooperate at the time of investigation and this was confirmed by the Sri Lankan board.

May 6, 2000 - Australia appoints investigator!
Cricket Australia appointed an independent investigator to examine alleged match-fixing and bribery reports. The board, however, refused to review the case of Shane Warne and Mark Waugh, who were earlier penalised providing pitch and weather information to bookies on the 1994 tour of Sri Lanka.

May 24, 2000 - The Justice Qayyum Report
After a year-long inquiry, former captain Saleem Malik and medium-pacer Ata-ur-Rehman were found guilty of fixing matches by a report prepared by Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum. These players were hence banded for life. The report also refrained Wasim Akram and Mushtaq Ahmed from Pakistan captaincy in future.


June 7, 2000 – Can of worms spilled!
Major revelations cropped up as many South African players came up with their confessions. Pat Symcox confessed to the King Commission that Cronje approached him earlier in 1994-95 to persuade him to ‘throw’ a match against Pakistan. He also claimed that Cronje had conveyed an offer of $250,000 dollars to lose an ODI during their tour to India in 1996. Later, Herschelle Gibbs, Henry Williams and Pieter Strydom confessed to have been offered money by Cronje to under-perform during their ODI and Test tour of India earlier in the year.

Nicky Boje, however, expressed his surprise in front of the King Commission about reports of being involved in the match-fixing scandal and said that he had never been approached by Cronje with an ‘offer’.

June 10, 2000 – Immunity for Cronje!
After a series of confessions during the King Commission hearings, Cronje was offered immunity from criminal prosecution in South Africa if he truthfully discloses his entire role in the scandal.

June 12, 2000 - Bacher’s revelations
Meanwhile, Ali Bacher revealed former Pakistan cricket chief executive Majid Khan told him that two World Cup matches in 1999, involving Pakistan, were fixed; one match was against India, the other against Bangladesh. The claims were, however, dismissed by all the cricket boards. Also according to Bacher, an Indian bookmaker revealed to him that Pakistani umpire Javed Akhtar was “on the payroll” when he made eight crucial decisions during South Africa-England Leeds Test in 1998.

June 13, 2000 - Kallis’ authentication
Jacques Kallis confirmed evidence by Mark Boucher and Lance Klusener that Cronje made an ‘offer’ to them in a hotel room before the second Test against India in Bangalore in March 2000.

June 15, 2000 - Cronje resigns, accuses Azhar
Cronje confessed to the Kings Commission to have taken about USD 100,000 in bribes from gamblers since 1996, but never threw or fix a match. He also announced his retirement from cricket with an interesting revelation that former Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin introduced him to a bookie during 1996 Test in India. Azharuddin called the allegation “rubbish”.

June 17, 2000 – Lara under scanner!
The West Indies Cricket Association investigated Brian Lara’s involvement in any betting on individual performances during England-South Africa tri-series in 1993. A week later, the board confirms Lara’s innocence.

June 23, 2000 – Teary Cronje!
Cronje broke down to tears by the end of his three-day cross examination by the King Commission in Cape Town. He gave out clear evidence of having accepting money from bookmakers. Cronje later begged for forgiveness as Sir Paul Condon is appointed director of ICC’s anti-corruption investigation.

July 20, 2000 – Indian players raided
Home of several Indian players, including those of then national coach Kapil Dev, former players Azharuddin, Ajay Jadeja, Nayan Mongia and Nikhil Chopra, were raided by the Indian income tax officials. Later in September, Kapil resigned from his position owing to the corruption inquiry being carried out in the team.

August 28, 2000 – Gibbs, Williams banned
The UCBSA banned Herschelle Gibbs and Henry Williams from international cricket until December 31, 2000, for their role in the match-fixing scandal, while Pieter Strydom is acquitted of conspiring to bet on the outcome of the Centurion Test in January.


October 11, 2000 - Life ban for Cronje
The UCBSA imposes a life ban on Cronje, which implied on all the UCBSA’s related cricket activities as well as that of its affiliates.

October 31, 2000 – Azhar in a ‘fix’!
CBI’s report revealed Mohammad Azharuddin, the then skipper of the Indian cricket team, confessed to fixing games with the help of Ajay Jadeja and Nayan Mongia. However, the report found no evidence against Kapil Dev.

November 6, 2000 – Lankan links!
After bookmaker MK Gupta exposed the names of Brian Lara, Dean Jones, Alec Stewart, Arjuna Ranatunga, Aravinda de Silva, Martin Crowe and Saleem Malik in several match-fixing scandals, the Sri Lankan cricket board appointed a one-man inquiry commission investigate Ranatunga and de Silva. Both were cleared of all charges in July 2001 due to inadequate evidence.

Meanwhile, New Zealand Cricket board too announced an investigation into Crowe’s alleged involvement. He too was later cleared in July 2001 of any wrongdoing.

November 27, 2000 – Azhar testified!
Mohammad Azharuddin was found guilty of match-fixing, while Ajay Jadeja, Manoj Prabhakar, Ajay Sharma and former Indian team physio Ali Irani were found guilty of having links with bookies. Nayan Mongia, however, came out clean.

BCCI, thereafter, slapped a life ban on Azharuddin, and ruled Ajay Jadeja out of international cricket for five years. Ajay Sharma was also banned for life, while Prabhakar and Irani, were barred from holding any official post in Indian cricket for five years.

Later, Jadeja’s ban was revoked by the Delhi High Court in January 2003 as there was no concrete proof of his guilt. In May 2003, the court allowed Jadeja to play domestic cricket.

June 22, 2002 - World Cup investigated
Pakistan’s Bhandari Commission investigated the Pakistan-Bangladesh match in the 1999 World Cup and came out with a report with little credible evidence.

August 17, 2004 - Odumbe banned
Kenyan Cricket Association levied a five-year ban on former captain Maurice Odumbe after he was found guilty of receiving money from bookmakers on several occasions.

October 12, 2006 – Gibbs interrogated
The Delhi police interrogated Herschelle Gibbs for over two hours about South Africa’s tour of India in 2000. Gibbs allegedly named Derek Crookes for being involved in match-fixing. Crookes denied the allegation, saying he was cleared by the King Commission.

May 13, 2008 – ‘Fixing’ Samuels!
Marlon Samuels was banned for two years for allegedly passing on match-related information to an Indian bookie during West Indies’ ODI series in India in 2007.

May 15, 2010 - County too not spared
Essex cricketer Danish Kaneria and Mervyn Westfield were arrested but not charged after an investigation into betting irregularities.

August 29, 2010 – For the latest, let’s go to Pakistan!

International cricket received another major blow after bookie Mazhar Majeed revealed in a sting operation by News of the World that he bribed Pakistan bowlers to bowl no-balls on demand during the fourth Test against England at Lord’s.

Skipper Salman Butt, pacers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir, wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal and youngsters Umar Amin and Wahab Riaz are currently under the scanner for the same.

May 14, 2011- ‘IPL Fixed’
In between the frenzy of slam-bang cricket that IPL has become synonymous with came a startling revelation of spot-fixing during its fifth edition. A sting operation conducted by a news channel claimed to have unearthed shady deals among players, owners and organizers.

Expressing shock at the development, the BCCI promptly stepped into action calling for emergency meeting of the IPL governing council and vowing to take appropriate action against the wrongdoers.

Compiled by Sudeshna Guha Roy

First Published: Monday, September 13, 2010, 17:52


Comments

ash sin - delhi
so we indian too have a glorius past in match fixing. azhar jadeja nayan kapil. at least we are second to none.this is why so many sport lovers never watch a cricket match these days. a day will come when only the coach team manager and team players will watch matches. this will be the cruel end of such a nice game.
Reply



Post your Comments

X
Name
Place :
Email :
Comments :
 
ash sin - delhi
so we indian too have a glorius past in match
Reply



Post your Comments

X
Name
Place :
Email :
Comments :
 
Yasser - South Africa
i believe that Imran Khan should be brought back is Pakistan coach and manager. The pakistan team of his time was the best performing team and they played for their country and not money
Reply



Post your Comments

X
Name
Place :
Email :
Comments :
 
Mujib Khan - Nairobi, Kenya
I don`g agree with the country being banned , rather ban the players for fixing because they dont realise that they are playing with the emotions of people supporting them and betraying their loyalty towards their nations.. therefore ban them for life.....
Reply



Post your Comments

X
Name
Place :
Email :
Comments :
 
d.wilson - colombo
I feel that Pakistan should be suspended till a throughinvestigation is done into the current affair.Life bans should be for life.They should be able to hold positions of authority,eg Azhar..The investigations should be made public.DW
Reply



Post your Comments

X
Name
Place :
Email :
Comments :
 
d.wilson - colombo
I feel that Pakistan should be suspended till a throughinvestigation is done into the current affair.
Reply



Post your Comments

X
Name
Place :
Email :
Comments :
 
anir - pune
i think spot fixing is okay
Reply



Post your Comments

X
Name
Place :
Email :
Comments :
 
anir - pune
everyone wants to make money its pure business.indian players get a good pay roll but the poor nations cant pay the players which makes them do this things its part of business.
Reply



Post your Comments

X
Name
Place :
Email :
Comments :
 
Abhay - pune
It is not bad to fix a match its an business
Reply



Post your Comments

X
Name
Place :
Email :
Comments :
 
vivek - delhi
Make match fixing legal and issue license to bookie and wait only 9 nation are playing cricket now come to an end. When we see the cricket craze it is not even alive in 9 nation. Total craze is from firstly India proof is success of IPL worldwide, second australia because they played professionally, south africa and srilanka, england are upto some extent trying to make cricket alive. But how much, this type of situation divert indian from cricket then it will be the game without sponsers example is HOCKey
Reply



Post your Comments

X
Name
Place :
Email :
Comments :
 

Pages: 1 2     

Post your Comments

Name
Place :
Email :
Comments :
 

Most liked Comments



Latest Most ReadFixtures
FIXTURE
West Indies tour of England
Test England v West Indies at Edgbaston, Birmingham - 06/07/2012
ODI England v West Indies at The Rose Bowl, Southampton - 06/16/2012
ODI England v West Indies at Kennington Oval, London - 06/19/2012
ODI England v West Indies at Headingley, Leeds - 06/22/2012
IPL 2012
Blogs
Shahrukh and Mamata - IPL circusShahrukh and Mamata - IPL circusIf you needed any proof of the cringe making vulgarity that is the IPL look... Read More
Five things about IPL which won't be missed!Five things about IPL which won't be missed!There are quite a few things about IPL and things that come along with it w... Read More
Rank Country Points
1 Australia 123
2 South Africa 118
3 India 117
4 England 111
5 Sri Lanka 110
6 Pakistan 105
7 New Zealand 86
8 West Indies 86
9 Bangladesh 67
10 Zimbabwe 46
Rank Country Points
1 England 116
2 South Africa 116
3 Australia 112
4 India 111
5 Pakistan 108
6 Sri Lanka 99
7 West Indies 85
8 New Zealand 85
9 Bangladesh 8
Rank Country Points
1 England 129
2 South Africa 122
3 Sri Lanka 117
4 New Zealand 114
5 Pakistan 107
6 Australia 107
7 India 103
8 Ireland 95
9 West Indies 93
10 Afghanistan 83
Rank Name & Nationality Points
1 Novak Djokovic (SRB) 11800
2 Rafael Nadal (ESP) 10060
3 Roger Federer (SUI) 9790
4 Andy Murray (GBR) 7500
5 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) 4965
6 David Ferrer (ESP) 4640
7 Tomas Berdych (CZE) 4500
8 Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) 3010
9 Juan Martin Del Potro 2910
10 Mardy Fish (USA) 2625
Rank Name & Nationality Points
1 Victoria Azaranka (BLR) 9020
2 Maria Sharapova (RUS) 8390
3 Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) 7080
4 Petra Kvitova (CZE) 6275
5 Serena Williams (USA) 5695
6 Samantha Stosur (AUS) 5440
7 Na Li (CHN) 4965
8 Marion Bartoli 4870
9 Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) 4586
10 Angelique Kerber (GERq) 3560
Rank Driver &Country Points
1Mark Webber-Australian73
2 Sebastian Vettel-German73
3Lewis Hamilton-British63
4Nico Rosberg-German59
5Kimi Räikkönen-Finnish51
6Jenson Button-British45
7Fernando Alonso-Spanish43
8Romain Grosjean-French35
9Pastor Maldonado-Venezuelan29
10Sergio Perez-Mexican22
Rank Country Points
1Red Bull Racing146
2McLaren108
3Lotus86
4Ferrari86
5Mercedes61
6Williams44
7Sauber41
8Force India28
9Toro Rosso6
10Caterham0
Rank Country Points
1 Rory McIlroy, Nir 9.53
2 Luke Donald, Eng 9.36
3 Lee Westwood, Eng 8.13
4 Bubba Watson, USA 6.45
5 Matt Kuchar, USA 6.08
6 Hunter Mahan, USA 5.53
7 Tiger Woods, USA 5.22
8 Steve Stricker, USA 5.17
9 Phil Mickelson, USA 5.11
10 Justin Rose, Eng 5.09
Rank Country Points
1 Spain 1442
2 Germany 1345
3 Uruguay 1309
4 Netherlands 1207
5 Portugal 1190
6 Brazil 1165
7 England 1132
8 Croatia 1114
9 Argentina 1076
10 Denmark 1069
Contact Us : Privacy Policy : Legal Disclaimer
Copyright © Zee News Limited. All rights reserved