King Commission: A sensational start to week two

Not surprisingly, the second week of the King Commission of inquiry, investigating the match-fixing scandal, started off with a bang on Monday. Following the testimony given by players and officials, the match-fixing scandal has become a sort of oil-rigging exercise - the more one drills, the deeper one gets into the rut. Especially after the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA) managing director Ali Bacher's sensational allegation that two matches in the 1999 World Cup in England involving Pakistan, India and Bangladesh which have created a furore in India and Bangladesh.

In a surprise move on Tuesday afternoon, Judge Edwin King adjourned the hearings until Thursday for further preparation and investigation.

Bacher deposing before the commission said that former Pakistan Cricket Board chief Majid Khan had told him that two matches in the World Cup were fixed. The matches he mentioned were Pakistan vs India and Pakistan vs Bangladesh. Bacher's statement was corroborated by Majid Khan who told a news agency "Yes, I told Bacher and I stand by what I said. I am willing to travel to Cape Town to testify before judge (Edwin) King. Bacher called me last month and sought permission to relay the information to the South African inquiry."

Bacher also said an Indian bookmaker "Mr R from Mumbai" had told him that Pakistani umpire Javed Akhtar was "on the payroll" when he made eight crucial leg before decisions against South Africa in a Test match against England in Leeds in 1998.

Bacher said he received 'threats of physical violence' while Cronje's lawyer told the commission that his client had received death threats.

In Bangladesh, an official denied any knowledge of alleged matchfixing in the the match between Pakistan and Bangladesh. The secretary of the Bangladesh Cricket Board Syed Ashraful Huq said "We do not know or believe it. We played our game and won the match against Pakistan." The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said it will hold a meeting on Tuesday to discuss the matter. The PCB director Yawar Saeed said "At the moment I will say nothing. But we will meet very shortly, maybe on Tuesday, to chalk out our strategy."

Appearing before the commission on Tuesday, former South African wicket-keeper Dave Richardson corroborated teammate Pat Symcox's statement that a current foreign international cricketer made a bribery offer to the off spinner in India in 1996 and he knew him. Richardson who refused to reveal the name said "Also you hear of all these threats and death threats, so maybe its not a good idea."

Richardson also testified on the 1996 bribe offer made by former South African captain Hansie Cronje. He said Cronje had first mentioned the offer to senior players during a meeting and it was opposed by Andrew Hudson. Richardson said "It was the one and only occasion in more than eight years of international cricket where such an offer was discussed in a team environment."

Earlier on Monday, South African players Lance Klusner and wicketkeeper Mark Boucher told the commission that Cronje had offered them bribes to under perform. Both players said that Cronje approached them as well as Jacques Kallis before the Bangalore Test in March this year. They felt initially that it was a joke and took it seriously only when the former captain admitted it in April.

Meanwhile, Pakistan umpire Javed Akhtar threatened to take legal action against Bacher after consulting the PCB. Akhtar said "He said this before and retracted but now I would definitely talk to the PCB and then take legal action."

Questioning Bacher's statement, Akhtar said "The match referee, Justice Ahmed Ibrahim of Zimbabwe, should have been told if there were any dubious decisions. They are wailing over it now." He added "Dubiously, Bacher never said anything at the International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting on match fixing."

Akhtar said "I am sure that he is biased against Pakistan and that's why he is making such baseless allegations, all are figments of his mind. It's insinuating. He must say who is Mr R and his statement shows he is himself friendly with bookies."

Denying that a bookie ever approached him, Akhtar said "I curse such filthy money. No one dared to contact me with such intentions like match fixing or any other malpractice," adding that "my income was such that I had to live in a rented house."