2000 IND-SA Series: Court Uncovers Match Fixing

New Delhi: A Delhi court ruled that attempts were made to manipulate additional fixtures and that certain matches of the India-South Africa test and ODI series were fixed. The court also laid charges against four suspects in the 2000 cricket match-fixing scandal case.

From February 19 to March 19, 2000, five one-day internationals and two tests were conducted.

The court said, “Investigation also concluded that some of the matches were fixed and an attempt was made to fix some other matches.”

In the first test match, which took place in Mumbai from February 24 to 28, it was noted in the investigation that “it was decided that the South African Team will not score more than 250 runs in an inning and the same is evident from the statement of Pieter Strydom and Hansie Cronje before the King’s Commission.”

“Though Hansie Cronje had spoken to other players as per the statements made before the King’s Commission, this match was not fixed although an attempt was made to fix it,” the court stated in reference to the second test match, which was played in Bengaluru from March 2 to 6.

The court declared, taking note of the facts presented, that the first ODI in Kochi on March 9 was a scheduled match.

“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,” it said.

“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.

In reference to the third One-Day International (ODI) at Faridabad on March 15, the fourth ODI at Baroda on March 17, and the second ODI at Jamshedpur on March 12, the court stated that Cronje stated in his statement before the King’s Commission that “he was forecasting as to what would happen.”

“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.

The court stated that based on the conversation that was recorded, “it is evident that Hansie Cronje had agreed to fix the score of the match and he had also agreed to fix the individual score of Herschelle Gibbs.” This refers to the fifth One-Day International that was played in Nagpur on March 19. Williams had also been instructed by him to surrender more than 50 runs in his ten overs. Each of them received a USD 15,000 promise.

“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,” it added.

The judge added, “From the recorded conversations, it is revealed 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.”

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