How the match-fixing drama unfolded - Part 3

Sanjiv Chawla, a prime accused in the match-fixing scandal, was quoted as saying in an interview to the British tabloid, Daily Express, "I have never met Hansie Cronje and certainly have never given him any money as it has been claimed". Chawla added "I am innocent and have done nothing wrong. I am being chased for nothing".

Indian team coach Kapil Dev has served a legal notice on former BCCI president IS Bindra for naming him as the player who offered former Indian allrounder Prabhakar Rs.25 lakhs to under perform. In an interview to the press Kapil said "for the present a legal notice has been sent to IS Bindra by my lawyers and the ball is in his court". Kapil added "cricket has been my life and I have given everything to the game. The reputation built over 25 years has been tarnished by one irresponsible statement". When asked whether he would seek an apology, Kapil said the details of the notice served on Bindra would be made public in a day or two.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is likely to release the Qayyum report on match fixing in a week. PCB Chairman Tauqir Zia was quoted as saying to a news agency that "No date has been fixed but in all probability the report would be released immediately after the conclusion of the first Test between Pakistan and the West Indies sometime next week".

Pakistan's former Test captain Rashid Latif said Friday the International Cricket Council (ICC) had done paper work instead of anything ``concrete'' against the menace of match-fixing. ``They have once again formed committees like they did last year, they have not done anything concrete,'' said Latif, a central figure in the matchfixing controversy in Pakistan.

The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) has decided to appoint an independent investigator to examine the allegations of match fixing and bribery. The ACB spokesman said "the Australian special investogator would be appointed within two to three weeks. Several names have been considered but no names would be made public until the appointment was made.

The ACB has ruled out a review of the case of Shane Warne and Mark Waugh who were fined earlier for providing pitch and weather information to bookies in the 1994 tour of Sri Lanka.

Kapil Dev broke down and wept during an interview with BBC World to be telecast on Wednesday, saying that he would commit suicide rather than take a bribe. Pronouncing himself sick of third party allegations, he urged Manoj Prabhakar to come out himself with the truth. "I put my heart, soul and tears into the game and this is what I get. I don't know what to do. My wife can't sleep at night. I hold my daughter all night. I am ashamed I played cricket", Kapil said.

Imran Khan blasted the ICC for pressuring the PCB to release its match-fixing report while letting the ACB off the hook for concealing facts about two of their own players having contact with bookmakers in 1994. Imran said that had action been taken at the time, the menace would not have spread like it has. He also came down heavily on Ali Bacher for making irresponsible statements against ICC member countries.

The South African enquiry into the Cronje scandal will begin later next week instead of Monday as originally scheduled, according to a South African newspaper. Judge Edwin King who is heading the inquiry commission was reported as saying that the full team to conduct the hearing had yet to be assembled.

Home Minister LK Advani has indirectly confirmed that Manoj Prabhakar had named Kapil Dev during their meeting on April 28 as the player who offered him money to throw a match. Advani said that Prabhakar had mentioned to him the name reported in the newspapers and that he had told him to give this information to the investigating agency.

The CBI Joint Director, RN Sawani, has said that it is too early for any breakthrough in the match-fixing investigation and that his team will question Manoj Prabhakar as soon as he returns to Delhi. He also denied having received from IS Bindra any document on match-fixing that the latter is reported to have prepared.

Sports Minister SS Dhindsa said that the government had asked the CBI to complete its enquiry as soon as possible but had not set any timeframe as the progress was dependent on cooperation from Interpol and other state governments. Dhindsa added that the probe initiated by the Delhi police would continue simultaneously.

ICC president Jagmohan Dalmiya denied that he was removed from its Finance and Marketing committee. Talking to the press on his return from Paris, Dalmiya said he would be moving court to sue the English newspaper 'Sunday Telegraph' for carrying an article which reported that he was ousted from the sport's governing body by its Executive Board. "I am applying to the Government of India tomorrow for sanction of foreign exchange to enable me to sue the concerned newspaper and the writer abroad," he said. Dalmiya added "the article has deliberately twisted facts to defame me."

Earlier on May 7 the English newspaper had reported that "Jagmohan Dalmiya, president of the International Cricket Council (ICC), has been unceremoniously voted off the key finance committee of the sport's world governing body, the Telegraph can reveal." Lord MacLaurin, chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board, who was at the meeting, said: "Sir John Anderson [the chairman of New Zealand Cricket] and I proposed that the president should not - now or in the future - take part in any financial negotiations on behalf of the board, and it was unanimously agreed." The newspaper said that Dalmiya attended the meeting on a consultative capacity.

The mystery of the mobile phone used by former Indian captain Mohd Azharuddin during the recently concluded Sharjah tournament has been solved. It belongs to a Dubai-based businessman, the Gulf News said. "The number is registered with a Dubai-based businessman Pradeep Menon, who is also involved with cricket in his personal capacity", it said.

The phone is registered in the name of Bluebells Shipping Company run by Menon, who also runs an indoor cricket stadium. Menon confirmed to the newspaper saying "Yes, I did give Azharuddin my mobile phone during the Sharjah tournament. There is nothing to hide. Azharuddin is an old friend and he needed a phone, I gave it to him."

Indian coach Kapil Dev in an interview to an Indian newspaper replying to a question on whether he would continue to be the coach of the team said "I don't want to leave the team in midstream. Let me attend the camp for the Asia Cup at Dhaka and talk to the boys. I don't think we should be playing at Dhaka but if we do, I will be there with the boys, but after that I am not sure.. ".

South African sports Minister Ngconde Balfour speaking at a press briefing in Cape Town on May 8 said "Whilst we realise the sense of urgency of the inquiry, every effort will be made to ensure that the inquiry starts as soon as posible. No definite date of hearings will be given at this stage".

Judge King, who has been appointed to head the inquiry said "My main concern is that I want to try and create a congenial atmosphere. I'm hoping that people will come forward and open up to me and the commission and make this a cleansing and a healing exercise and get this rottenness out of the whole game of cricket.

The publication of the Qayyum report on match fixing by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been put off. Talking to a news agency PCB chairman Tauqir Zia said Pakistan President Rafiq Tarar, who is also a patron of the PCB has raised some legal questions about the report. Zia said "I recieved the report..but I have been told to seek advice from legal experts. There are certain points the President wants to clarify,." Zia added "the board is not playing delaying tactics. We have an obligation and a promise to fulfill. the report will be made public soon as legal as aspects are covered."

Justice Malik Qayyum who carried the match fixing inquiry has said to The Sunday Telegraph that he is prepared to denounce the PCB if neccessary. There have rumours that the report would be watered down. "It can't be watered down. The report is final. I have a sealed copy with me and if they change it then everybody would know" he said. Qayyum who holds one of the three copies added "if they change the report then it can always be compared. Of course I would then make it public".

Former India opening batsman Navjot Singh Sidhu refused to either confirm or deny that he was Manoj Prabhakar's room mate during the 1994 match when the alleged bribe offer was made to Prabhakar to under peform. Speaking to an Indian newspaper, Sidhu said ``I don't want to comment on it.'' He also denied comments on whether Prabhakar was looking at him for testimony on his allegations.

Former Pakistan captain Intikhab Alam has threatened to sue former West Indies captain Viv Richards if he accused him of foul play in the mid-1970s. Alam said "A man of his (richards) stature can't issue such a statement, but if has said this I will not spare him and sue him". Richards had said in an in terview to an Indian sports magazine "Cricket Talk" that a former Pakistan captain had forfeited the toss during the home series against West Indies in 1974-75.

Pakistan Cricket Board chief Lt. Gen. Tauqir Zia said that the performance of the Pakistan team will not be affected if the Qayyum report is made public. He said "there will be no further delay in publishing the report. I think the players, who are in the West Indies, will not be affected by the release of the Justice Malik Qayyum report.

Former BCCI president Inderjit Singh Bindra said in Chandigarh on May 10 that he would send a detailed report on match fixing and betting "within a week or in 10 days." He said "besides hard facts, the report to CBI would contain reliable information".

Talking to an Indian newspaper the Union Sports minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa has suggested that Indian coach Kapil Dev should not go to Dhaka id his name has been revealed to the CBI by Manoj Prabhakar. Dhindsa said "If Prabhakar has officially given Kapil's name to the CBI then I feel he (Kapil) should not go to Dhaka." The minister added "The BCCI officials, who are the ones to decide on the issue, have not spoken to me as yet. But if they do, I will tell them exactly this,".

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) will look into the allegations of scams in telecast rights of sports events on Doordarshan including those contained in the Arun Agarwal report. The controversial report contains serious allegetions about losses incurred by Doordarshan due to mismanagement.

Arun Agarwal released at a press conference yesterday notings of a Prasar Bharati file. Showing the notings the financial expert said ``Where is the doubt that Dalmiya is not part of the negotiations. The notings on the file make it amply clear that he was part of the negotiations.''

Former national selector Ravinder Chadha urged the BCCI and CBI to probe the slow batting by Manoj Prabhakar and Nayan Mongia in a oneday match against the West Indies at Kanpur in 1994. Chadha said though Prabhakar was suspended for two-matches as punishment. He added "I am not aware what further action and corrective measures Bindra and Dalmiya took."

The Minister of State for External Affairs Ajit Kumar Panja said in Lok Sabha that a request has been made by the South African government to have the tapes which contains the conversation between South African captain Hansie Cronje and an Indian bookie. Panja said the request of the South African's have been conveyed to the Delhi Police. He added the request will taken in conformity with the provisions and procedures of law.

The former West Indian captain Clive Lloyd has dismissed the claims made by 'master blaster' Viv Richards to a newsagency. Lloyd said " that the report was "a figment of Richards' imagination. " He added "nothing like this happened to me in Pakistan or anywhere else. I can't imagine why Viv has said this, if he has, he is totally wrong. It must have happened to someone else and not to me".

Earlier, Viv Richards had said in the 'Cricket Talk' magazine that Clive Lloyd went out to toss in one of the Tests in Pakistan and came back and said. "You know what? I just lost the toss and I was told by the other captain that I had won".

The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Tauqir Zia has said in Lahore on May 10 that a thr Qayyum report will be made public in eight to ten days. On the judicial inquiry that was conducted he said te probe found that there was "no planned match-fixing" by any Pakistani cricketers. He said "There has been no planned match-fixing found during the inquiry" and added Judge Quyyam proposed "bans and fines, against some players, because of their non-cooperation with the inquiry".

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which has been asked to probe the match fixing and betting scandal, today said it was planning to question Manoj Prabhakar at an appropriate time about his claim that Indian ace-allrounder Kapil Dev had offered him a bribe to play below his potential.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) which was appointed by the sports ministry to look into match-fixing has asked sportspersons and the general public to provide information on the scandal. It has requested the people to come forward and provide whatever they know on match-fixing, betting or other malpractices relating to cricket.

Former BCCI vice-president N Venkata Rao has come in defense of Indian coach Kapil Dev saying that "Kapil Dev never played cricket for money. There are occasions when he refused to claim flight charges when he participated in the benefit matches organised by ACA in aid of former players at Guntur, Visakhapatnam and Eluru." He said this in an interview to an Indian newspaper.

Rao who was the administrative manager of the Indian team on the 1995 New Zealand tour said he submitted a 'confidential' report to the then BCCI president Inderjit Singh Bindra. In the report he had advised the Board to 'do away' with Manoj Prabhakar due to his 'casual and non-cooperative' attitude to team members. This was not taken seriously by the BCCI he said.

A survey conducted across the four metros by 'Outlook' magazine found that there was an overwhelming support for the Indian coach Kapil Dev. In the interview more than sixty percent of people in Delhi, Calcutta, Chennai and Mumbai said the 'Haryana hurricane' was not guilty of match-fixing. Only twenty percent of the 300 people interviewed felt he was guilty. Seventeen percent were undecided. The survey was conducted last week after Kapil Dev was seen sobbing in the BBC programme 'Hard Talk' which was telecast on 10 May.

Two Scotland Yard detectives who were in India in connection with the match fixing and betting allegations levelled by England player Chris Lewis left for home on Saturday. The detectives Martin Hawkins and Bruce Horbury held a series meetings with the officials of the BCCI including former BCCI president Raj Singh Dungarpur and executive secretary Sharad Diwadkar.

The working committe of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will meet in New Delhi on May 19. The meeting will review the discussions that the board officials had with ICC president Jagmohan Dalmiya and the sports ministry with regards to betting and matchfixing.

A South African Cricket Board official has said that it will delete match results and individual averages from the record books if its Commission of Inquiry finds players guilty of match-fixing. Brian Basson, UCB's head of playing affairs said in Johannesburg "if it is proved conclusively that an individual has been involved in wrongdoing in our local, national matches, then that match would be scratched from the record books."

Justice Qayyum who investigated the involvement of Pakistani players in match fixing has said Pakistan players are involved in match-fixing and recommended life ban for two players - former Pakistan skipper Salim Malik and leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed, reports a British newspaper Sunday Telegraph. Talking to the newspaper, the Judge when asked whether he recommended a ban for Malik, Qayyum said "that is correct", and on Mushtaq Ahmed he replied "I can't say, but the answer isn't no". Asked on Wasim Akram the reply from Qayyum was "I can tell you that he has not got off scot-free".

Another London newspaper The Observer in a report has said it has the details of depositions to Qayyum. According to the depositions, intentional bowling of wides, conceding byes, slow batting and bizarre adjustment of the batting and bowling order were some of the methods players used to 'throw' matches.

Indian coach Kapil Dev in an interview to a cricket web site has said ``I am not going to let IS Bindra get away with his allegations and will sue him. I don't know why my name was mentioned without evidence.'' Earlier in an interview to a TV channel former BCCI president IS Bindra had alleged that Kapil Dev was the player who offered Manoj Prabhakar a bribe to under perform in a one-day international tournament in 1994.

Former BCCI president Inderjit Singh Bindra said at a press conference in Chandigarh that he will be submitting his 400-page report as evidence on match fixing on Monday. He said "We (PCA) will submit a 400-page report on match-fixing containing documents as evidence." Asked on the proof against Kapil Dev, Bindra said he does not have any evidence in support of the allegation against the former Indian captain other than the 'second hand' information provided by Manoj Prabhakar.

Former BCCI president IS Bindra submitted a 400 page document to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) pertaining to match-fixing. Bindra spent over two hours with the investigators at its headqusrters in New Delhi. Bindra is the second official to meet the investigating agency. Earlier DDCA secretary and former Indian team manager Sunil Dev met the CBI on Friday.

A commission headed by retired judge Edwin King to inquire into match fixing and betting in cricket in South Africa has asked the Delhi Poilce to hand over the tapes containing the convsersations between former South African captian Hansie Cronje and an Indian bookmaker. The request has been made through the South African foreign ministry. this was informed by the sports ministry's spokesman Graham Abrahams.

In a British newspaper 'Daily Telegraph' UCBSA managing director, Dr Ali Bacher was quoted as saying that the former South African skipper Hansie Cronje gave a hint of his involvement with the bookies. Dr. Bacher said "some two or three weeks before the story from Delhi broke, Hansie, in the middle of a telephone conversation about something else, said to me that the team had been appraoched by Indian bookies to throw a match and it had turned down".

The former Pakistan skipper Imran Khan has asked for the Qayyum report to be made public immediately and said any further delay would harm the image of the country. He said "It (delay) has and is damaging Pakistan's cricket image and has given a chance for others to hurl anything they want at Pakistan". Imran said he was informed on Monday by PCB chairman Tauqir Zia that the report was about to be made public.

Former BCCI president IS Bindra who submitted a 400 document to the CBI on Monday has been handed a questionnaire based on his report. Bindra said "They (CBI) gave me a questionnaire and I will be sending reply soon." and added he would be extending all possible help to the agency on order to end the match-fixing scandal in the game.

The BCCI's working committee will meet to discuss matters relating to match-fixing apart from others. The agenda for the meeting is a review of the earlier meetings with the ICC president Jagmohan Dalmiya and Sports minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa will be done. The meeting assumes significance at the wake of some board officials countering the allegations made by IS Bindra. A former BCCI president and now president of the PCA, Bindra is expected to attend the meeting. The crucial BCCI's working committee meeting will be held in New Delhi on May 19.

Abrahams said the request made by Indian Interpol officials for a sample of Cronje's voice would be formulated once the tapes are handed over. Abrahams added "A decision on providing a voice sample will only be taken once the tapes are made available to us. We are expecting the Indians to respond to the request."

At a press conference in New Delhi, ICC president Dalmiya said the CBI enquiry into the betting and match-fixing scandal "was the best thing to happen". He said after "The general perception in the country is that the Chadrachud committee report was nothing but a eyewash. Hence a premier investigating agency like CBI probing the scandal will give credibility to the findings".

The BCCI in its working committee meeting in New Delhi on May 19 has proposed to move a code of conduct to its officials refraining them from going public with statements in the wake of match-fixing issue. The BCCI president AC Muthiah said "hereafter only I will be issuing statements".

BCCI president AC Muthiah said if the players are found guilty they would be banned for life and their records erased from the books. But added "I would like to affirm that the board pledges its total support to all past and present players until they are proved guilty of their involvement by the CBI in any aspect of betting or match fixing. "The issue of match fixing is of public concern as it hits at the very fabric of the game", he said. Instead he suggested "let us concentrate on the growth of the game".

International Cricket Council (ICC) president Jagmohan Dalmiya has filed three separate defamation suits against a British newspaper 'The Sunday Telegraph', Indian magazines 'India Today' and 'Outlook' for Rs.50 crore each. The suit was filed before the Calcutta High Court yesterday for trying to tarnish his (Dalmiya's) image in the on-going match-fixing controversy.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has sought clarifications from ex-BCCI president IS Bindra from the 360 page document submitted by him on betting, match-fixing and corruption in Indian cricket. Earlier the CBI had given Bindra a questionnaire for which Bindra is expected to reply in a couple of days.

The secretary of the BCCI Jaywant Lele said inspite of the matchfixing allgeations the Indian team's morale remained unffected. Before leaving Baroda to attend the working committe meeting on Friday, Lele said "The boys are doing well. The match-fixing controversy has not affected teir morale. They are in good spirit. "

BCCI president AC Muthiah says in an interview to a website that if former Indian all-rounder Manoj Prabhakar does not tell the truth relating to match-fixing which he raised three years ago, he would face stiff action.

Former BCCI president Inderjit Singh Bindra says he will be replying to the questionnaire that the CBI has handed over to him last week on Monday. The queries were based on the 360-page report submitted by Bindra on betting, match-fixing and and other corruption charges in Indian cricket. Bindra said "I am preparing the response and will be sending it by Monday." Bindra had earlier appeared before the CBI on May 15.

Salim Malik rejects the allegations made by the News of the World as baseless and pledges to tell his side of the story soon. ``How can a man already so embroiled in false allegations come out with things like that,'' Malik tells a news agency from Lahore. ``I will come up with my side of the story in the next four or five days. I am not going to be quiet but at the moment I can't say anything more,'' he says. Referring to the ACB questioning his credibility over the issue, Malik says ``instead of questioning the paper's credibility, they are questioning my credibility. Just wait for a few days more and every question will be answered.''

Manoj Prabhakar charges the Indian Cricket Board with exerting pressure on him to express regret for his allegations about match fixing and says he will not succumb to such tactics and will go public over the issue in a week's time. Asked by a news agency in New Delhi to comment on a report quoting BCCI President AC Muthiah saying stiff action would be taken against him, Prabhakar says there is no question of him saying sorry. ``I have done no wrong. They want me to say sorry. Sorry for what? I have not done anything against the Board, neither did I say anything against it.'' He says he has decided to break his silence and he intends to make everything public ``very soon.'' Asked how soon was very soon, he says: ``In a week's time.''

David Graveney, chairman of the England selectors and manager of the England team that won a one day tournament in Sharjah in 1997, dismisses claims that match fixing by former Pakistan captain Salim Malik was the reason for their success. ``I believe we won the tournament fairly. It would be shattering to all of us if that wasn't the case.'' Graveney's reactions are in response to allegations in the British tabloid `News of the World' by Malik that Pakistan threw a one day game against his team in Sharjah three years ago. ``Sharjah is an unusual place in that all teams stay in the same hotel, you have players milling around and supporters camped outside and you may get all sorts of situations. But I have no suspicions of the tournament.'' he says.

The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) says it is considering investigating recent claims made by former Pakistani captain Salim Malik that an unspecified match between the two teams played in 1994 was a 'double fix' where both sides were trying to lose. British newspaper The News of the World reports Malik as saying "It will be very easy for me to fix a match. The players will agree. We've all done it before. It's better than dealing in drugs. When you've got the main players in your hand, you'll have to be really unlucky to lose. You'll have four or five players in hand and they will be playing just for you."