How the match-fixing drama unfolded - Part 12

The Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) Anti Corruption Commissioner K Madhavan says in New Delhi that he is through with the final round of questioning with the former Indian captain Ajit Wadekar. Speaking to a news agency after a three and a half hour meeting at the DDCA, Madhavan said "His interrogation is over. Whatever we wanted to know we have asked. He was cooperative and answered all our questions. We have recorded his statement. Speaking about his appointment with Kapil Dev on January 10, Madhavan says that the time and the venue of the meeting is yet to be decided. He says "He (Kapil Dev) has more or less confirmed but nothing is final as yet." Meanwhile Wadekar, whose name does not figure in the CBI report, is at a loss to explain why this meeting was arranged. "I don't know why I was asked to depose again," he says.

Manoj Prabhakar, banned by the BCCI for five years from the game, dares the Indian Sports Ministry to take away his Arjuna award, bestowed on him "Take away the award and face the consequence," Prabhakar says in a letter to the Sports Ministry and adds that he will go to court if the government took any such drastic step. "The award was given to me for my achievements on the field and I have done nothing wrong on the field to be deprived of it," he says in New Delhi. Prabhakar, who was scheduled to have meet officials of the ministry today, prefers not to go for the meeting. "I did not go to meet the joint secretary today. My views are well known. I have other things to do. How many times do I have to keep meeting the officials about the same topic," he says.

Sacked cricket captain Hansie Cronje is seeking a court order to review a life ban, claiming it unlawfully prevents him from promoting and coaching cricket among undeprivileged children, according to press reports that appear today. In papers filed at the Pretoria High Court against the UCBSA which imposed the ban, Cronje says he does not dispute the termination of his contract or the playing ban, and does not intend to resume a professional playing career, The Citizen daily reports. Cronje however stresses that the UCBSA has no legal powers to regulate his participation in matters connected to cricket beyond his playing career, and believes that he should be allowed to make amends for his conduct, the Johannesburg-based Star reports. "The best way in which I can do that is to use the talent, skills and expertise which I have acquired in cricket and to promote the game in tne field of coaching and developing, particularly the coaching of underprivileged children", Cronje says.

Former Indian captain Kapil Dev appears before the Board of Control for Cricket in India's anti corruption commissioner K Madhavan at an undisclosed venue in New Delhi in connection with the BCCI's internal inquiry into match-fixing and betting in the game. Kapil Dev's statement, running into 15 pages, at the session was "not much different" from what the former captain has already told the CBI but contained "some new facts, additions and minor amendments", Madhavan tells reporters. Madhavan says he questioned Kapil Dev for three and a half hours on all matters including his former teammate Manoj Prabhakar's allegations of offering him Rs 25 lakh for underperforming in 1994 and the controversial decision not to impose the follow-on against New Zealand in the Ahmedabad Test in 1999 when he was the coach. "We looked into all the facts that have been mentioned in the CBI report without exception," Madhavan said. The former CBI officer says Kapil Dev freely expressed his views and he was satisfied with the session. Asked whether he is planning to summon any other cricketer, Madhavan says "in the next four or five days, I will make an assessment and decide whether any further inquiry is required. If so, I will summon the concerned players," he says and adds he hoped to submit his final report to the Board "within two-three weeks". Asked whether he had reached the bottom of the malaise, Madhavan says "I think I am swimming somewhere in the middle. Let me see when I reach the bottom." Madhavan however expresses his inability in summoning Mukesh Gupta, a bookie named in CBI report, saying he could question only those persons who were answerable to the Board. "Unless he (Gupta) agrees to meet me, I do not have legal powers to examine him. I want to examine two or three more individuals but it depends on them whether they agree to it or not," he says.

Former England captain Alec Stewart assures International Cricket Council (ICC) anti-corruption chief Sir Paul Condon of his full co-operation in match-fixing investigations. Stewart, who found himself drawn into the match-fixing scandal when he was named in a CBI report in India late last year, attends a preliminary meeting with Sir Paul and other members of the anti-corruption unit (ACU). A subsequent statement from the ICC says: "Mr Stewart confirmed that he is fully prepared to cooperate with the ACU's ongoing investigations. If necessary a further meeting, involving more detailed discussions, will take place at some point in the future. Mr Stewart met with Sir Paul Condon, head of the anti-corruption unit and senior members of his investigative team. Neither the anti-corruption unit nor Mr Stewart will be making any further media or public comment on this matter."

Former India captain Mohammed Azharuddin is to soon challenge in the Andhra Pradesh State High Court the life ban imposed on him by the BCCI for his alleged involvement in the match-fixing scandal. "The writ petition in this regard seeking quashing of the life ban imposed on Azharuddin has been finalised and would soon be filed in the Andhra Pradesh High Court," senior advocate HR Bharadwaj says in New Delhi. The main ground to be taken before the court in the petition would be questioning the legal value of the CBI report, he said. "The CBI followed no established procedure while conducting the probe," Bharadwaj says adding "The CBI report on betting and match-fixing was neither an investigation nor a proper inquiry." Told that the BCCI decision was handed down after the Madhavan committee endorsed the findings of the CBI report, the advocate says "Madhavan was nobody to conduct the inquiry. He had no jurisdiction to take up such a probe. It is only the Indian Cricket Board which is authorised to conduct the probe," and adds "hence the punishment given to Azharuddin is illegal."

Former Indian captain Md Azharuddin says that while has has been implicated in the match fixing scandal, cricketers from Mumbai had been able to get away with wrong-doing without being "investigated properly." In his first interview after being slapped with a life ban by the BCCI, he says "Nobody talks of the Rs 70 lakhs cash found in Sunil Gavaskar's club locker. What about Ravi Shastri's Ali Bagh farm house and other costly properties? How did Vinod Kambli lose his money from a locker?" In an interview to a weekly news magazine, Azharuddin says he is being targeted because people are "jealous" of his achievements. He also confirms that he is challenging the life ban in court and says he is "emphatic about my success in the court."

Indian Sports Minister Uma Bharti says match-fixing will be a criminal offence under a proposal initiated by her ministry in the wake of the recent scandal that has rocked Indian cricket. "My Ministry has already initiated a proposal to make match-fixing an offence and this has already been sent to the Law Ministry," Bharti tells a news agency in New Delhi. Referring to speculation among the legal fraternity that match-fixing falls under the provision of gambling or cheating, Bharti says "match-fixing is not an ordinary offence to be equated with cheating or gambling. Through this, the country's prestige is being put at stake for a few bucks," and adds that the response from the Law Ministry is awaited. "Anyway, the match-fixing issue does not become a closed one after we take action against the guilty. As far as I am concerned, I would not rest till this malaise is completely rooted out from sports," the Sports Minister says. "I am committed to bring reforms in the various fields associated with sports and one of the important tasks is to see that such heinous crimes do not recur. I have to take a lot of steps to see that players never indulge in match-fixing," she adds.

Close on the heels of the arrest of NRI businessman and alleged bookmaker Sanjeev Chawla, Delhi police say they would be sending a team to London for a further probe into the match-fixing scandal. When contacted, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) KK Paul says that they are awaiting an official communication from Interpol about the arrest of Chawla. Paul says irrespective of his arrest, the city police were already contemplating to send a two-member team to London to probe further into the match-fixing controversy. Paul does not specify as to when the team would leave for London but adds "it would be very soon". Delhi police stumbled upon the match-fixing controversy in April last year when they recorded the telephonic conversation allegedly between Chawla and banned former South African captain Hansie Cronje.

In a dramatic development in the match-fixing scandal, Scotland Yard arrest alleged bookmaker Sanjeev Chawla in North London. Chawla, 33, who runs a clothing business in central London, is arrested by officers of the serious crime group at his home in Hendon. He is driven to a police station in central London and bailed to return later this month, according to media reports in London. The arrest of Chawla, who was absconding after his passport was revoked by the Indian government, follows a letter issued by Delhi police. The arrest is considered a significant breakthrough in the match-fixing scandal. Chawla has been accused of offering money to two England players to underperform in the drawn third Test match against New Zealand at Old Trafford in August 1999. He was also named in the King Commission report which probed corruption in South African cricket and in India's CBI report on betting and match-fixing.

Australian batsman Mark Waugh is to be interviewed by investigators next month over his alleged involvement in cricket's betting and match-fixing scandal, cricket officials say in Sydney. Australian Cricket Board chief executive Malcolm Speed says anti-corruption investigators from the International Cricket Council will arrive early next month to interview the veteran player, who is the twin brother of captain Steve Waugh. Mark Waugh has allegedly been linked to Indian bookmaker MK Gupta, who has in turn been implicated in rampant betting and match-fixing among cricket's elite international players. Waugh's future now rests with the verdict of the ICC investigators. However, officials concede that verdict may be a long time coming, given the magnitude of their investigation. The ICC investigators will be joined by an ACB representative, Greg Melick, when they interview Waugh, says Speed. "It is my intention to interview Mark Waugh in February in relation to allegations made by MK Gupta," says Melick. "I don't think you can have these allegations made without giving Mark Waugh the chance to give his side of events." Melick tells reporters that other Australian players may also be interviewed as potential witnesses to corrupt practices that have shaken the game to its core. Speed, flanking Melick at the briefing, says he had also informed Waugh previously that investigators would seek to speak to him at some stage. However, the ACB chief executive was adamant there was a "presumption of innocence" until any concrete evidence was established against the player. "I have told Mark at different stages that there would be a request for him to be interviewed at some stage," Speed said. "It's very important that Mark has the opportunity to exonerate himself."

The United Cricket Board of South Africa sets up a four-person committee to consider recommendations by Judge Edwin King aimed at combating corruption in cricket. King's second interim report, following the King Commission hearings in June 2000, was released in December. The UCBSA executive meets today in Johannesburg, their first meeting since the report was made public. The committee, headed by board member Robbie Kurz, is told to make a full report to the general council of the UCBSA on January 27. The UCBSA committee will be Kurz, chief executive Gerald Majola, board member Brandon Foot and communications manager Bronwyn Wilkinson. Wilkinson says the committee will consider all aspects of the report and will consult with relevant persons including lawyers and player management and this could include discussions with players.

British investigators probing cricket's match fixing scandal are to question call girls in connection with the scandal, the "Observer" daily from London says. The women were used by bookmakers to lure some of the game's best-known players into throwing games or to reward them for under-performing on the field, the report said quoting former Pakistan Test batsman Qasim Omar, who appeared in 28 Test matches alongside such sporting greats as Imran Khan, Wasim Akram and Javed Miandad. He alleges that prominent players, including national team captains, were part of "crooked deals" that have destroyed cricket's honourable image. The call girls were all Australian apart from one Pakistani and a Chinese, the report said. Anti-corruption investigators of the ICC led by Sir Paul Condon, plan to interview the women next month in Australia. Condon and his team will take a list of 23 call girls when they fly to Melbourne for the ICC's quarterly meeting on February 9 and 10. Condon's team will brief cricket's world governing body on the progress of inquiries before seeking to interview both call girls and bookmakers also on the list. The list has been provided by Qasim Omer who told the investigators about the sex for match-fixing set up and has provided addresses and telephone numbers of all the women, the report said.

Omar, according to the report, claims that, from the mid-80s, the call girls were supplied to the players by an Australian bookmaker through two madams in Sydney and that the network of prostitutes for players stretched across Australia from Brisbane to Perth. Omar has also provided information about an identical sex scandal in New Zealand, again organised by a bookmaker, who has also been named, the report said. Omar has alleged that an Australian bookmaker lavished money and gifts on players - both Australian and visiting overseas stars - who did what he asked. According to him, batsmen were paid up to 3,600 pounds for throwing their wicket away and received jewellery, watches, gold pens and bottles of spirits as extra perks. According to the report, Omar has named one world class batsman who was offered 9,000 pounds to throw his wicket away in the first four Tests of a five-match series. In addition, he has also identitied one top Asian bowler who deliberately under-performed in several matches in Australia because he needed the money to finish building a house. Condon's investigators will seek to interview Omar, who is now based in Britain when they return from Australia.

The International Cricket Council's anti-corruption unit will question former Sri Lankan skipper Arjuna Ranatunga and veteran batsman Aravinda De Silva in Colombo next month. The ICC team would arrive in Colombo on February 20, a few days after De Silva, currently on tour to South Africa, returns from the next scheduled tour of New Zealand, Sri Lankan Cricket Board President Thilanga Sumathipala is quoted as saying in the Sunday Observer in Colombo. The paper says Sri Lanka's solo investigator Desmond Fernando had found new evidence, not contained in the Indian Central Bureau of Investigation report which published its findings last year. The paper does not say if the new evidence would exonerate the two Sri Lankans or makes further charges against them.

The Australian Cricket Board expresses its disappointment with star batsman Mark Waugh's decision not to appear before special investigator Greg Mellick and a team from the ICC probing into the match-fixing scandal. ACB chief executive Malcolm Speed says he is disappointed that Waugh's legal team had advised the batsman not to participate in the inquiry. "These investigations are an important part of dealing with this issue once and for all, and reassuring those who follow cricket that nothing inappropriate has occurred," Speed tells reporters in Sydney. "I continue to hope that Mark (Waugh) will take this opportunity to address any issues that the ACB special investigator Greg Mellick and the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit may wish to resolve with him," he says.

Senior batsman Mark Waugh, acting on legal advice, has refused to be interviewed by the Australian Cricket Board's special investigator Greg Melick, according to his manager. Melick and the ICC's chief investigator Sir Paul Condon had sought to interview Waugh early next month over allegations contained in an Indian police report that he had taken 20,000 US dollars from illegal bookmaker MK Gupta, who has in turn been implicated in rampant betting and match-fixing among the game's elite international players. A statement issued by Waugh's manager Leo Karis in Sydney says that Mark Waugh's lawyer Raff Pisano has informed the ACB that Waugh has presently declined its request for him to be interviewed by ACB and ICC investigators in early February. According to Pisano, Waugh has co-operated with previous ACB and ICC inquiries and is continuing to co-operate with their present inquiries. "The ACB and ICC have not provided Waugh with any evidence about the unsubstantiated allegations made by Gupta in the CBI report and he has already denied those allegations. Waugh's focus is on his commitment to cricket and to ensure the game's reputation is not further tarnished by endless inquiries and speculation," the statement concludes.

Australian Cricket Board chief executive Malcolm Speed denies that there is evidence that Australian prostitutes were used to lure top players into match-fixing. He says the ACB does not know if any Australian players or teams had benefited inadvertently from the sex bribery alleged to have happened in the 1980s. "What is disturbing is the suggestion, and I'm not sure if it goes this far, that matches played in that period may have not been played fully on their merits," he says. Speed tells ABC radio he has contacted the ICC anti-corruption unit about the latest allegations, reported by Britain's Observer newspaper to have been made by former Pakistani Test batsman Qasim Omar. He adds he has contacted the ICC anti-corruption unit, had confirmed it had the file from Omar and it had said it would investigate the allegations. "We've established three things, first that this story is not new: it has been published in a London newspaper some time previously," Speed adds. "Secondly, it relates to incidents that occurred in the period 1984 to 1987 and thirdly, there are no Australian officials or players involved in these allegations. "What is of concern to the ACB, however, is that it's alleged that an Australian bookmaker was involved... We'd like to find out more about that." Speed says he had no idea who was involved, nor the names of the players.

The Australian Cricket Board's lawyers will meet with Mark Waugh's legal team to try to convince the Australian batsman to give evidence into an investigation probing corruption in the game. ACB chief Malcolm Speed says the Board will also be seeking clarification whether it could force Waugh to give evidence to an anti-corruption unit. "We have the power under the contract that compels Mark to follow reasonable directions from ACB," says Speed. "We're not quite sure why he's unwilling to submit to this interview at this stage so I think there needs to be some dialogue and over the next couple of days we'll try and sort it out," Speed tells a Melbourne radio station. Asked whether Waugh would be stood down for the rest of the season, Speed says it would be a matter for the ACB Board of Directors to consider. "There are unsubstantiated allegations that have been made against Mark Waugh and until there's something further than that, the ACB doesn't see it as appropriate to take further action. Whether his refusal to answer questions changes that position is an issue we'll have to resolve over the next few days."

The ICC plays down the controversy sparked by Mark Waugh's refusal to co-operate with Australia's top match-fixing investigator. Despite initially warning they would take a "very dim view" of non-cooperation, the ICC believe it is just a matter of time before Waugh complies. "The reaction in Australia is greater than it is here," says ICC spokesman Mark Harrison in London. "He has such a high profile over there, but I think we can produce a more measured response. I think in a sense that it is legal posturing from his advisers. They are saying it is not a criminal inquiry so he can't be forced into answering the allegations. As far as we are concerned, this is no big panic." The ICC says it will not give the matter up and do intend to continue their inquiries into the allegations made by bookmaker Mukesh Kumar Gupta to the CBI in India. "We would like to see Waugh and for him to speak to form a view about it," says Harrison. "We have a meeting scheduled in Melbourne when we will speak in more detail about it with the ACB and we will take it from there. I think that he will want some advance details of what will be discussed so that he can prepare a response."

Former New Zealand cricket captain Martin Crowe is willing to meet the ICC anti-corruption unit, his lawyer says. One of the allegations in an Indian Cricket Board report claims that Crowe received 45,000 US dollars from alleged bookmaker MK Gupta for information in 1992. Crowe has admitted receiving 7,500 dollars for what he believed was a series of articles, but broke contact when he realised it was a scam involving a bookmaker. An Indian police report had said the bookmaker stated Crowe refused to fix games. Crowe said he had been advised not to comment because he was involved in an inquiry by New Zealand Cricket's (NZC) investigative team of retired High Court judge Sir Ian Barker, Nick Davidson and assisting counsel Tim Gresson. Crowe's lawyer, David Howman, says he did not expect the ICC to put unsubstantiated allegations to Crowe. They would be "wasting their time" if they did not put forward anything more substantial than what had been alleged so far in India. "You always go to meetings to see what people have to say," says Howman.

The ICC in the meantime makes it clear that the next step will have to come from the ACB and the Board would have to determine what action it would take. It says it still wants to question Waugh. "We would like to see Waugh and for him to speak with (investigator) Greg Melick to form a view about it," ICC spokesman Mark Harrison says in London. "We have a meeting scheduled in Melbourne when we will speak in more detail about it with the ACB and we will take it from there."

The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) says that Mark Waugh will be dropped from the Australian team if he maintains his refusal to be interviewed by anti-corruption investigators. ACB chief executive Malcolm Speed announces the board of directors had discussed Waugh's refusal to be interviewed by investigators probing the betting and match-fixing scandal. "I have written to Mark on behalf of the directors, asking him to reconsider his position," Speed tells reporters. "The board implores Mark Waugh to change his view and submit to the interview process." Speed adds Waugh had until tomorrow's deadline (0500 GMT) to give a written undertaking to the ACB he would submit to the interview, scheduled for early next month in Australia. Waugh had refused earlier this week to be interviewed by ACB investigator Greg Melick and his ICC colleagues.

Australian cricket captain and twin brother to Mark, Steve Waugh, says he has left a message on Mark's phone, but is yet to discuss his brother's refusal to be interviewed with him. "We haven't had a chance to talk," Steve Waugh tells reporters in Adelaide. "At some stage we will, but he probably feels like keeping to himself at this stage. "No one else knows what's going on behind the scenes or what's occurring. People have all got opinions about it but I think I'll keep mine to myself." Mark Waugh has consistently denied the allegations against him and Steve Waugh says "it's a tough situation at the moment and Mark's obviously being guided by his lawyers and hoping he's going in the right direction." Mark Waugh is in Adelaide with the Australian team for Friday's limited overs match against the West Indies. However, he does not turn out for a team training session late Wednesday, remaining instead inside the players' hotel.

Embattled Australian batsman Mark Waugh, who has agreed to face questioning over his alleged role in the match-fixing and betting scandal, concedes that he is under pressure. "It hasn't been the best week, I guess, obviously there's some pressure there," Waugh tells reporters in Adelaide. But he also says that the Australian team members continue to support him. "It's obviously been spoken about. My team-mates are very supportive, which I'd expect of them," he says. "They're going about their business as normal and so am I." However, he refuses to offer any insight into his likely testimony to ICC investigators.

ACB boss Malcolm Speed welcomes Mark Waugh's decision to give evidence to to the ICC probe. "I'm happy the undertaking has been received," Speed says. However, he hints Waugh would face a gruelling interrogation. "Investigators don't normally telegraph their punches and they're not required to send a form listing all the questions and say tick the box," says Speed. "They are entitled to go in and conduct investigations as they see fit. We can't dictate to the investigators how they go about their business; they are independent and have a job to do and the fewer fences around them the better."

Australian batsman Mark Waugh will talk to investigators probing the match-fixing and illegal betting scandal, Waugh's manager Leo Karis says. A letter is faxed to Australian Cricket Board (ACB) chief executive Malcolm Speed early today confirming Waugh had reconsidered his earlier refusal to be interviewed. Karis says Waugh's lawyer, Raff Pisano, will discuss the timing of the interview with ACB officials to set a time and place for it. He also says Waugh had always been willing to talk to the investigative team, headed by Britain's Sir Paul Condon, if he was supplied with an agenda for the interview. That information was provided late yesterday when the ACB wrote to Waugh. "Mark's always been willing to talk. The ACB have finally provided the information he requested," Karis tells reporters. Waugh's lawyer, Pisano, tells Melbourne's Herald Sun newspaper that: "It is a pity that Mark had to be subjected to attacks on him before the ACB finally conceded his right to natural justice. It is unfortunate that the ACB has made its concession accompanied by the threat of a right to withdraw Mark's selection. With his rights to natural justice now vindicated, Mark will attend an interview with the investigators."

Former Indian captain Md Azharuddin initiates legal proceedings against the decision of the BCCI to ban him for life after being accused of match fixing. "We have taken the first steps towards fighting the injustice meted out to Azharuddin," his lawyer T Jagdeeshan says. He adds that the application for filing a case had been made before a civil court in Azharuddin's home city of Hyderabad. He says formal proceedings are expected to begin shortly. The case is filed against the BCCI, its president AC Muthiah and special investigator K Madhavan. "We will seek revocation of the ban as my client is innocent and the BCCI has not followed proper legal roceedure in taking action against him," Jagdeeshan says.

Indian cricket bosses take up the challenge at former captain Md Azharuddin's decision to take legal action to revoke the life ban, saying they would fight the case in court. "We will answer the allegations levelled by Azharuddin in court. We will defend our actions," says BCCI president AC Muthiah in Bangalore. On Azharuddin's charge that the probe against him was not fair and transparent, Muthiah says "He might say what he wants to say. We will answer it in court." Defending the role of former CBI joint director K Madhavan as the BCCI inquiry commissioner, Muthiah says the board has made the correct decision following the right procedures and would defend it in court. On the former Indian captain accusing him of having a personal grudge against him, Muthiah says he has nothing personal against anyone. BCCI secretary Jaywant Lele also denies allegations pertaining to Madhavan's appointment saying the decision was taken unanimously at the general body meeting of the BCCI.

The BCCI rules out any inquiry against Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar on the basis of allegations made against them by former captain Md Azharuddin. BCCI president AC Muthiah says in Bangalore that the allegations are not in the CBI report. "There were no complaints made officially to the board. I don't think we will have an inquiry now," he says.

Former South African captain Hansie Cronje is voted `newsmaker of the year 2000' by the Pretoria Press Club. The award is shared with the members of the South African Air Force who were involved in flood rescue operations in Mozambique. The chairman of the club Yusuf Abramjee says the award is in recognition of the amount of space and time Cronje's involvement in match fixing had occupied in the South African media last year. "This is a news award, not a merit award and we have made that point very clear," says Abramjee.