Wadekar non-committal on Singer Cup incident

The Singer Cup tournament held in Sri Lanka in 1994 is now in the limelight for all the wrong reasons. Former BCCI president IS Bindra was quoted as saying Manoj Prabhakar had informed him that Kapil Dev offered him Rs.25 lakh to underperform in a match. The former Indian captain and then manager of the team on that tour Ajit Wadekar in a telephonic conversation with this correspondent was terse, guarded and excessively cautious in response.

Asked about the conflicting reports that Prabhakar informed him of the offer of bribes to underperform in a match in the Singer Cup in 1994. Wadekar, the only captain to win two series abroad said "Enough has been said about this matter already. Charges are flying around and different people are saying different things. I have already deposed before the Chandrachud commission and I don't want to say anything new."

Deposing before the Chandrachud commission, Ajit Wadekar had stated clearly that he was not told about the episode. His reluctance to repeat himself is surprising. Wadekar told justice YV Chandrachud "The episode of offer of Rs 25 lakhs narrated by Manoj Prabhakar has no foundation. Infact, I was the manager of the team at that time.but he did not tell me a word about it." When he so categorically denied knowledge of the incident when he deposed, there should be no reason for him to be so guarded in responding now. Unless of course there is more to the story than was revealed by the Chandrachud Comission.

When this correspondent asked "Are you happy with the findings of the Chandrachud Commission?" Wadekar replied "Of course. He is a former chief justice of India after all. He conducted a thorough inquiry and I accept the findings of the Chandrachud Comission."

To another question on the whole issue has been opened up again..." Wadekar quipped "The Government is looking into the matter. I wouldn't want to comment till the CBI Investigation is finished."

Wadekar also refused to comment on recent developments involving Kapil Dev.

It is well known that Mohammed Azharuddin and Ajit Wadekar combined superbly in the early 1990s and brought Indian cricket tremendous success, especially at home. In his deposition to Justice Chandrachud, Wadekar says "According to me, Azhar is basically a simple person but he is friendless. Some undesirable persons have invaded the cricket field and have ruined it by playing politics." Although Azhar would appreciate the support, it is unlikely that he would take lightly to being described as friendless.

At the end of India's dismal tour of Australia the Indian coach Kapil Dev described Azhar as being "unpopular" with his teammates and Azhar took great umbrage. The fact that Wadekar, who is seen as a well wisher of Azhar describes him in the same light bodes ill for the former Indian captain. At a time when fingers are being pointed across the board, every man will need his friends.

Ajit Wadekar has echoed many of Azhar's thoughts in the past. Azhar is a known stickler for discipline. Wadekar told Chandrachud "as a manager, I felt that the priorities of the players were all wrong. They attended too many parties and mixed with too many outsiders just to keep their own allowance intact. Their attention is not all focussed on the game of cricket." While he says that players attended parties and dinners "just to keep their own allowance intact" Wadekar quickly adds, "There is no betting by any Indian cricketer. It is out of question. They are so well paid that they do not need any more money."

There is much contradiction in what Ajit Wadekar says. When the CBI calls him up to testify, he will have to be guarded in what he says.