Every international team fixed matches in 1990s: Condon

[vvvslaxman]

Well, batting second against SL was not such illogical thing to do for that match. SL openers, Jayasuriya and Kaluvutharana was on rampage during that tournament and they were chasing down any target with consummate ease. India had set up a target of 271 in Delhi, just few matches ago, which was definitely well above par total in those days (India was yet to score a 300 in an ODI) but the ease with which SL won that match was enough to scare anybody. On top of that Jayasuriya had murdered England also in his previous match. The line of thought, going into SF was that we would never know how much target would be enough for these Srilankan so if we know how much we have to score we can atleast have some game plan, I agree that was very pessimistic way to come up with a strategy but it was something on most of the people would have agreed on. I don't think what Kambli is saying makes much sense. It is just to create some sensation and reels in media.

To be honest.. i was happy that we were chasing because of jayasuriya

[kabira]

more importantly we had great start they were 3 down for next to nothing.

[Number]

Kambli's fixing allegations - Pure rubbish! http://www.sify.com/sports/kambli-s-fixing-allegations-pure-rubbish-news-columns-llstIOcejaa.html

So former cricketer Vinod Kambli has come out with another match-fixing allegation over the 1996 World Cup semi-final in which India crashed from 98-1 to 120-8. It will probably join the umpteen unproven accusations that have been hurled at in the last few decades, even though the Delhi Police has shown some interest in the matter. People may remember that the Chandrachud Commission of 1997 dismissed all allegations for lack of evidence. I remember that I had managed to meet and ask the late Justice YV Chandrachud about it and he categorically stated that it was impossible to legally prove match-fixing! At best one could investigate money disproportionate to a cricketer's income, or get a bookie or cricketer to confess their crimes. But you couldn't actually legally prove that a batsman deliberately threw his wicket away. After more than a decade, that still holds true. Late South African captain admitted to match-fixing while the first convictions (Salman Butt and Co.) came on the back of solid evidence in the form of video footage. And that too as late as 2011! Saleem Malik, Ata-ur-Rehman and Ajay Jadeja all saw their bans being overturned. Even Mohammed Azharuddin is fighting his case in court. You have to agree that while bans have taken place, convictions have been extremely rare. But the problem with the latest allegations from Kambli is that they hold absolutely no water. That's part of the myths that were floating around at that time and which persist to this very day. Myth 1: The decision to field first was wrong There was a myth that Azhar would field first for no rhyme or reason. One example cited is the Lord's Test of 1990 which was a batting beauty. When Azhar won the toss and decided to field, rival captain Graham Gooch couldn't believe his ears. All the commentators had a field day when Gooch scored a triple century to take his team to 653-4 declared and they romped home by 247 runs. However, Azhar decided to field first in only about 9 of his 29 Tests as captain. In fact had he decided to bat first, then that would have gone against the grain. Myth 2: Batting collapses like the Indian semi-final are rare The World Cup knock-out stages are littered with spectacular collapses. In the 1975 semi-final, England crashed to 93 all out in 60 overs. If that was to be a cakewalk, the Aussies found themselves at 39/6, but still managed to overhaul the target without any further loss of wickets. In the 1992 World Cup, Pakistan collapsed throughout the tournament and still managed to win the title. With England they were 74 all down in the leagues. In the semis, they were reeling in their chase, but saved by a brilliant 37-ball 60 by Inzamam-ul-Haq. In the finals too they were reeling at 24-2 when a super-slow Imran Khan innings was countered by a brisk one from Inzamam to take them to a respectable 249. In the 1999 Pakistan crashed to 132 all out. Everyone cried match-fixing. But look at most Pakistan crunch matches which they have either won or lost. They have consistently performed badly in the first half of their batting. They either bail themselves out in the second half or they don't. It's as simple as that. In the 2003 semis, a very consistent Sri Lanka found themselves at 123-7. Then what of South Africa? They have choked in every knock-out they have ever played in the world cup! The worst which comes to mind is their 149 all out in the 2007 semis. There's also the 112 all down by the West Indies in the 2011 quarters. All in all sub-150 scores are extremely common in world cup knock-outs. Either most players can't handle the pressure, or many more matches have been fixed! Myth 3: Azhar used to deliberately get himself run out That's another grouse people had against Azhar: That he seemed to deliberately get run out. One TV channel even showed frame by frame how he seemed to be doing it on purpose in one match-fixing programme. Again, statistics tell a different story. Azhar played 334 ODIs and got run out 32 times in them. How does that compare to say someone like the legendary Steve Waugh? Waugh got run out 27 times in his 325 matches. Doesn't seem like much of a difference. In fact that has more to do with being a lazy runner or a good runner. A slow Inzamam was run out 40 times for his 378 matches while a good runner like MS Dhoni has only been run out 11 times for his 196 matches. On the whole, all this ''circumstantial evidence'' gets you nowhere and you're back to square one. Match-fixing will continue to be one of cricket's biggest mysteries and delayed Kambli-type accusations without any concrete evidence whatsoever will only add to the confusion. You can also be sure that after the spot-fixing sting, players will be much more careful in the future.

The author is a Bengaluru-based journalist and blogger. blog - http://sunilrajguru.com/

[akshayxyz]

Even in that match Jayasurya looked as old as he looks today.

[Precambrian]

no chance.. we were literally pissed off at his performance bar that 100 against pathetic zimboks. until semi final he was the chief enemy for fans alongwith prabakar.

zimbabwe wasn't "pathetic" back then. They had reduced us to 32-3 when Kambli walked in.

[vvvslaxman]

zimbabwe wasn't "pathetic" back then. They had reduced us to 32-3 when Kambli walked in.

Two dollies were dropped by zimboks. that was an overrated innings. india was always going to win that match. Besides the point kambli played so many one dayers after the world cup. He could have staged his come back any time he wanted. He just wasnt' good enough.

[Precambrian]

Two dollies were dropped by zimboks. that was an overrated innings. india was always going to win that match. Besides the point kambli played so many one dayers after the world cup. He could have staged his come back any time he wanted. He just wasnt' good enough.

Tendulkar was dropped insane no. of times in the SF against Pakistan in WC 2011, does that make it a rubbish and unimportant innings? We had lost Tendulkar, Azhar and Manjrekar in the 33-3. How are you saying convincingly that we'd have won it even if Kambli didn't play that innings. Zimboks chasing made 200+ and there was every chance we'd have bundled for less than 200. I am not denying that his form fell off atleast in ODIs post that WC..

[Desi Cartman]

I know someone who knew Jadeja personally and that ****er fixed all matches. I was told this before tehelka happened but refused to believe it till Jadeja was actually named afterwards in the inquiry. I'm still not 100% sure that 96 QF was fixed but I know that game vs Pakistan in 99 WC was fixed. If u remember Azhar had another fail tournament but then he was dropped 2-3 times to make a quick 40 odd vs Pakistan Sent from iPhone using Tapatalk

[putrevus]

So now we have resorted to Pakistani ways when we lose we all shout match fixing.Those losers always say matches are fixed so they can put the blame on somebody else. Why is it we fixed semi finals and not QF against Pak.They would get more for Indo Pak match. Kambli is a joke wtf was he doing all these years.

[jairamesh]

Indian batting just collapsed under the shear pressure, nothing to it. That whole world cup was riding on Tendulkar's batting and Kumble's bowling and one magical Jadeja innings. Though on Kambli, he has been pretty unfortunate in his career, and was victimized more by fans' rejection of him than selectors for obvious reasons, and selectors dully obliged at dropping him.

[vvvslaxman]

Tendulkar was dropped insane no. of times in the SF against Pakistan in WC 2011, does that make it a rubbish and unimportant innings? We had lost Tendulkar, Azhar and Manjrekar in the 33-3. How are you saying convincingly that we'd have won it even if Kambli didn't play that innings. Zimboks chasing made 200+ and there was every chance we'd have bundled for less than 200. I am not denying that his form fell off atleast in ODIs post that WC..

i saw that match live.. I had no doubt someone was going to step up. It was an uneven contest from the outset. It is much like glorifying Yusuf pathan for finishing off against Ireland.

[jonas10]

The whole Azhar we got spanked in Delhi arguement sucks. Sri Lanka won the toss and put them in to bat. They did this based on the conditions. India should have made their decision based on conditions at Eden garden...and they knew that. Cause a team that can chase down around 300 can also put up 350 batting first....does the India 90s team wanna chase that? We know the three stooges fixed matches...all i can say is that there is a special place reserved in hell for Jadeja, Azhar and Mongia.

[MCcricket]

I partially agree there were things going on in international cricket , but it is very hard to prove these things.

[Tiger80]

Azhar saying that his case is going on in HC and his name will be cleared.. LOL.... like no one knows that he offered Cronie money... i mean that guy has publicly accepted the fact and revealed Azhar and others in the INDIAN team... and such a guy is an MP... It happens only in INDIA

In our country well known criminals are elected ,Azhar is just petty theif in front of them

[jonas10]

Azhar makes Salman Butt look like Clive Lloyd in terms of personal character. Hopefully his case will be settled sometime this decade...sigh.

[J P K]

Tbh' date=' no one expected the wicket to crumble like it did. Even Jaya was turning it square from over the wicket. I remember there being talk about the pitch before the game - like there usually is before a big game - and [b']the curator said that it will hold up for 100 overs. That and the way SL raped us in Delhi contributed to the decision.

azharuddin was well aware of how the pitch would fall apart as the match went on. he still chose to field, and said it was a team decision. nobody knows if that was the case though. india were 8/10, sri lanka 11/10 to win that semi.

We fielded first because SL destroyed us in Delhi chasing. They did the same against England in the quarters as well. Teams were scared of bowling second against them back then. The curator assured the team that the wicket would stay firm right through but it didn't.

Former Indian cricketer Vinod Kambli's claims that he suspected the India-Sri Lanka 1996 World Cup semi-final was fixed‎ , were backed by the then Eden Gardens curator Kalyan Mitra who said had he been the captain, he would have batted first. Mitra also raised questions over the 'sudden turning of the pitch' after Sachin got out. Mitra told STAR News, "I did not give any advice to Azharuddin. The decision to field was entirely his own. Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri were also present during the toss. After winning the toss, Azharuddin said India would field first. Mitra said the pitch was playing well till Sachin Tendulkar was playing and India were 98 for 2. He questioned how the pitch suddenly became unplayable. Mitra says Sri Lanka scored 251 runs and till Sachin was out, India scored 98 for 2, which means 349 runs were scored comfortably on the pitch. In the next 22 runs India lost six wickets. According to Mitra, this could not be blamed on pitch alone. :banghead: http://www.newsbullet.in/sports/cricket/21524-i-stand-by-my-remarks-that-india-sl-semi-final-may-have-been-fixed-kambli

[mishra]

Yes. All the dissmissals were with ball pitching outside legstump.

[jonas10]

All of you guys that are saying Kambli sucked and was out of form should check his test average.....Why give up on someone that skilled so quickly? :((