New Delhi: A Delhi High Court has observed that several games of the India vs South Africa series in 2000 were either fixed or attempts were made to fix them.
Two Test matches and five One-day Internationals were played from February 19 to March 19, 2000 and the court said: “Investigation also concluded that some of the matches were fixed and an attempt was made to fix some other matches.”
The court had earlier framed charges against four persons who are accused in the 2000 match-fixing scandal that rocked the nation.
It was decided that South Africa will not score more than 250 runs in an inning in the first Test in Mumbai from February 24 to 28.
“The same is evident from the statement of Pieter Strydom and Hansie Cronje before the King’s Commission,” according to the court.
The second Test was in Bengaluru from March 2 to 6 and “though Hansie Cronje had spoken to other players as per the statements made before the King’s Commission and an attempt was made to fix it, this match was not fixed although.”
The first ODI in Kochi on March 9 was fixed, the court said: “”The conversation recorded on March 16, 2000, wherein Hansie Cronje demands outstanding payment and Hansie Cronje’s statement before King’s Commission admitting receiving of money from Sanjeev Chawla, clearly prove that the 1st One Day International was a fixed match.”
“Statement of Hansie Cronje made before the King’s Commission that he had informed Sanjay (alias Sanjeev Chawla) about losing the first One Day International is further corroborated by the statement of others made before the King’s Commission,” the court added.
As per Cronje’s statement before the King’s Commission, the late former skipper forecasted as to what would happen regarding the second ODI ib Jamshedpur on March 12, third ODI in Faridabad on March 15 and the fourth ODI in Baroda on March 17.
“Thus, though the matches were not fixed, it can be inferred that Hansie Cronje helped in giving inside information to the accused persons and helped them in placing bets and earning huge profits,” the court said.
Evidence suggests that Cronje had agreed to fix the score of the fifth ODI on March 19 in Nagpur and he had also agreed to fix the individual score of Herschelle Gibbs.
“He had also spoken to Williams to give more than 50 runs in his 10 overs. Both were promised USD 15000 each,” the court said, adding: “Though the players forgot about the deal in the heat of the game and did not play as per agreed terms, it can be concluded that a serious attempt was made to fix the match.”
Recorded conversations reveal that “between the accused persons, large amounts of foreign exchange has also changed hands through hawala dealings for onward payment to the South African members who were part of the criminal conspiracy,” the court said.
The court had earlier framed charges against four persons who are accused in the 2000 match-fixing scandal that rocked the nation. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
