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More than two decades after the 2000 cricket match-fixing scandal case, a Delhi Court has framed charges against four accused. The court said that some of the matches in the series between India and South Africa were fixed. In addition, there were attempts made to fix other matches as well.
South Africa's tour of India comprised of two Tests and five ODIs which took place from February 19 to March 19, 2000.
"Investigation also concluded that some of the matches were fixed and an attempt was made to fix some other matches," the court said.
"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," the court said about the first Test in Mumbai.
The court also said that the second Test was not fixed even though attempts were made to fix it as well.
"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 first ODI played on March 9 in Kochi was fixed and there is evidence to support it.
"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.
The court said that the second ODI at Jamshedpur, third ODI at Faridabad and fourth ODI at Baroda were not fixed as Cronje, in his statement before the King's Commission only forecasted 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.
Attempts to fix fifth ODI failed
Attempts were made to fix the final ODI at Nagpur as well but Herschelle Gibbs and Henry Williams did not do what Cronje asked of them. Gibbs scored a 53-ball 74 in South Africa's 10-run win.
"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. 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 as per recorded conversation.
"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.
"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," the court further noted.
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