Vinod Kambli: Explosion or Reality ?

Of late World of Cricket is under the grip of stories of fixing which are highlighted by different sources’, these stories gets wind after court in London gave its verdict on the issue of spot fixing which includes three Pakistani players, during fourth test at lord of Pakistan tour to England in the year 2010 –

·        Salman Bhatt -  Jail terms of thirty months

·        Mohammad Asif - Jail terms of twelve months

·        Mohammad Amir – Jail terms of six months

First time whistle blower of match fixing in India was Manoj Prabhakar, who spoke to media about match fixing in India during late nineties, committee was constituted for probe and Mohammad Azharuddin was banned from his any association with cricket, although just recently it is lifted. First time in the history of cricket match fixing allegation was proved with evidence when South African cricket team was India under the captaincy of Hansie Cronje , then Delhi Police recorded conversation between Hansie and bookie and it was reveal that two other players of South Africa were also involved with Hansie in this fixing and they were Herschelle Gibbs and Nicky Boje. When news break it was hard to deny by Hansie Cronje. Later on ICC erect anti corruption unit to keep away fixing from cricket.

In the year 2010, when Pakistan cricket team was in England and during fourth test at lord string operation was conducted by media and in it bookie Mazhar Majeed and three players Salman Bhatt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were caught red handed to play the match as per his direction. When it was telecast by electronics media then it was deny by three players but this story gets last chapter written by court when it gave verdict of punishment and monetary fine to accused three players.

   Ink of spot fixing news was yet to dry when former head of ICC’s Anti Corruption unit Lord Condon announced that match fixing is happening in every country from quit long, in response to it few cricket associations deny Condon acquisition. 

Now just few days back statement came from former Indian cricket player Vinod Kambli that he has suspicion that semi final of 1996 world cup of India against Sri Lanka was fixed, to strengthen his words he said that pitch was good for batting and if India won the toss it was decided that India will bat first but when India won the toss and opted to bowl first it was surprising move that captain opted to field first, but in respond to kambli’s acquisition then captain Mohammad Azharuddin respond that it was collective decision to bat first as Sri Lanka chased score very well in the world cup in the league match at Delhi, if Kambli has not information of meeting before the match, then perhaps he was sleeping, even coach Ajit Wadekar also stand behind the words of Mohammad Azharuddin, but till date no other single player of sixteen members team (including five reserve) back kambli’s words. Score card of first semifinal of 1996 game of Wills world cup, about whom Kambli has suspicion India against Sri Lanka is as follow –

• One Day International No. 1081
• Played at Eden Gardens, Calcutta
• India won the toss and opted to bowl first , 13 March 1996 - day/night (50-over match)

Sri Lanka ( 50 overs Maximum )

·        S T Jayasurya c Prasad b Srinath  1

·        R S Kaluwitharna c Manjrekar b Srinath  0

·        A P Gurusinha c kumble b Srinath  1

·        P A De Silva b Kumble  66

·        R S Mahanama retired hurt  58

·        A Rantunga (Captain) lbw b Tendulkar  35

·        H P Tilakratne c Tendulkar b Prasad  32

·        HDPK Dharmsena b Tendulkar 9

·        WPUJC Vaas run out Azharuddin 23

·        G P Wickramasinghe not out 4

·        M Muralitharan not out 5

·        Extras ( B 1 , L B 10, W 4, N B 2 ) 17

·        Total 50 Overs ( 251 runs for 8 wickets )

Fall of wickets1-1 (Kaluwitharana), 2-1 (Jayasuriya), 3-35 (Gurusinha), 4-85 (de Silva), 5-168 (Ranatunga),5-182* (Mahanama, retired not out, 37.2 ov), 6-206 (Dharmasena), 7-236 (Tillakaratne), 8-244 (Vaas)

 Bowling –

·        J Srinath      7       1        34        3          4.85

·        A Kumble     10      0        51        1          5.10

·        BKV Prasad   8      0        50        1          6.25

·        AR Kapoor   10      0        40        0          4.00

·        A Jadeja      5      0        31        0          6.20

·        SR Tendulkar  10      1    34        2          3.40

India innings ( Target 252 runs from 50 overs )

·        SR Tendulkar st Kaluwitharana b Jayasuriya 65     

·        NS Sidhu c Jayasuriya b Vaas 3    

·        SV Manjrekar b Jayasuriya 25       

·        M Azharuddin ( Captain) c & b Dharmasena 0

·        VG Kambli not out 10       

·        J Srinathrun out 6   

·        A Jadejab Jayasuriya 0      

·        NR Mongia†c Jayasuriya b de Silva 1        

·        AR Kapoorc de Silva b Muralitharan 0      

·        A Kumble not out 0           

·        Extras         (LB 5, w 5) 10

·        Total 34.1 overs ( 120 runs for 8 wickets )

Bowling    

·        GP Wickramasinghe     5       0     24      0      4.80

·        WPUJC Vaas                6       1     23      1      3.83                      

·        M Muralitharan             7.1    0     29      1      4.04            

·        HDPK Dharmasena       7       0    24       1     3.42            

·        ST Jayasuriya                7         1   12        3     1.71                      

·        PA de Silva                   2        0    3         1     1.50           

It is really surprising that it took period of sixteen long years for Vinod Kambli to speak about his inner conscious that particular game was fix, till date neither he has support of any player of that game nor he has present any proof which endorse his words that he is correct. It appears that just to remain in the news he made issue of nothing and if he has any suspicion then he should come up with his words, other wise it will leave him lonely stranded one side and all his team mates on other side along with cricket fraternity of India.