It could be a hot summer for Indian cricket

The day May 4 has been quite significant in the match fixing scandal. There have been sudden developments and action all around in the cricketing world after some impasse. Things which were in the back burner for long suddenly started to spread like wild fire.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) which had lodged a preliminary enquiry (PE) has started making a list of people to be questioned. It will be sending teams within India and abroad for the probe. The agency is also contemplating to seek the help of some foreign investigation agency if needed. A Scotland Yard team, which is here to probe the allegations levelled by Chris Lewis, has failed to establish any link between the Indian bookie named by the English cricketer and other Indian suspects so far, according to police sources.

Earlier the day started with the dropping of a bombshell by former Indian Cricket Board chief IS Bindra that Manoj Prabhakar had told him that it was Kapil Dev who offered him Rs. 25 lakhs. Kapil Dev responded immediately by issuing a press statement saying "Certain baseless allegations have been made in a TV interview. I have discussed this with my lawyers who are taking appropriate action against those responsible for uttering these reckless allegations". Later in an interview to an Indian newspaper, the Indian team coach said "I have had enough. I did not react earlier to these wild allegations but I can't take it any more. They have woken up a wounded tiger and now I am not going to keep quiet".

Prabhakar refused to be drawn into the allegation made by Bindra. He said in Lucknow that "the CBI is handling the case, let them uncover the truth first. Then I will hold a press conference. There is not just one player, there are many." Prabhakar was non-committal about whether he had disclosed any name to Bindra. "To me the CBI comes first and nobody else." he added.

An Indian newspaper was quoted as saying that Prabhakar had disclosed the name to the Union Home Minister LK Advani just before the Sports Minister's meeting with the BCCI officials and players on April 27. It is also reported that former Indian player Kirti Azad was present at the meeting. Earlier in the week, Prabhakar had said in his column on a cricket website that he had revealed the name of the player to a 'big gun' in the Government.

The plot has started thickening with the big names in the game getting into the act thick and fast. People who said they possessed some vital information have started coming out with details. And with the CBI slowly starting to gather information, one hopes that something concrete will emerge. Only time will tell.