Chandigarh, Saturday, June 19, 1999
Chandigarh, Saturday, June 19, 1999 |
Gavaskar’s charge needs probe By Abhijit Chatterjee The issue of betting and match fixing has been haunting Indian cricket for a long time. Whenever India lost in the recent past, especially to weaker teams, it was alleged that the match had been “fixed”. The issue came to a real boil when a player of the calibre of Manoj Prabhakar had alleged in a magazine interview that he was offered money by a co-player to “play below par and throw away a match” . Major tournaments in trouble Hattricks
in one-dayers Will
Paes-Bhupathi win Wimbledon? |
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Gavaskar’s charge needs
probe The issue of betting and match fixing has been haunting Indian cricket for a long time. Whenever India lost in the recent past, especially to weaker teams, it was alleged that the match had been “fixed”. The issue came to a real boil when a player of the calibre of Manoj Prabhakar had alleged in a magazine interview that he was offered money by a co-player to “play below par and throw away a match” . These issues again came to the fore when former super star Sunil Gavaskar alleged in a television programme in the ongoing World Cup that the Indians were sent instructions from the dressing room to “finish off” the World Cup Group “A” league match against Zimbabwe at Leicester, which India eventually lost by three runs in the penultimate over of play. It is this loss which was bugging the Indians the most as they made an exit from the tournament after finishing last in the Super Six with only two points to their credit. If India had won the match then the equation and the overall scenario would have been altogether different. India, requiring four runs to win and two overs in hand, lost to Zimbabwe when Henry Olonga picked up the wickets of Robin Singh, Javagal Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad. This loss in the end analysis turned out to be crucial and India could make the Super Six only after recording back to back wins against Kenya, Sri Lanka and England. It went to the second round with no points. It managed only two points from the win against arch rivals Pakistan. While making the allegation Sunil Gavaskar demanded a probe into the whole issue. The superstar’s demand was promptly shot down by the President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, Mr Raj Singh Dungarpur, who said that no such instructions was sent from the dressing room.What prompted Mr Dungarpur to outrightly reject a probe demand is difficult to fathom. If the enquiry had been conducted in the right spirit, it probably would have done a world of good to Indian cricket. However, to the surprise of many, Bishen Singh Bedi, no friend of Sunil Gavaskar during their playing days, also raised the spectre of match-fixing in the India versus Zimbabwe tie. Bedi, appearing in a television programme, said that the issue should be probed so that the “truth” should come to light. The Indian cricket board, it seems, is not willing to take the bull by the horns and probe the whole issue. By instituting an enquiry the board would have been able to calls Gavaskar’s bluff, if it is so, and then take suitable action against the former Indian opener. But if Gavaskar’s allegations could be proved, Indian cricket would have undergone a huge upheaval, probably doing a world of good to the game. When Manoj Prabhakar made the allegation in a magazine article the BCCI set up an enquiry commission headed by former Chief Justice of India, Mr Y.V.Chand-rachud. It is a different matter that his report giving a clean chit to all the cricketers has never been made public. That the issue of betting, and, more importantly, match-fixing exists in world cricket is proved by the fact that the International Cricket Council has set up a committee to go into the allegations of match-fixing . While this committee is yet to get active, a commission headed by Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum of the Lahore High Court set up in Pakistan to probe the issue has reportedly submitted its report. The report, is reportedly being kept under wraps till the end of the World Cup so that it does not effect the morale of the national team . For too long has Indian cricket been involved in allegations of betting and match-fixing. It has done immense harm both to the game and the cricketers . The time has now come for the Indian board to set up a commission and probe the whole gamut of match-fixing and betting. If the Indian board is unwilling to set up such a commission, the Government of India should order an enquiry by a sitting High Court or the Supreme Court judge to get at the truth. If for nothing else the enquiry should help to clear the dark clouds hovering over Indian cricket. This committee should
also go into the issue of commercialisation of cricket
and its effect on the game. Certain people are of the
view that business houses now control the game and are
even putting their nose in matters like team selection.
Such things must be nipped in the bud, specially since
the game has, according to many, fallen into a quagmire. |
Major tournaments in trouble THERE has been some very disturbing news regarding the fate of a couple of high-profile tournaments. There was first the story about the once popular Aga Khan Hockey which had been hijacked by the cricket boom in the sub-continent. And more recently there was the story related to the difficulties faced by the All-India Football Federation in their efforts to continue with the Nehru Cup Tournament. Whatever the reason both football and hockey seem to be in danger of losing out. The two tournaments mentioned have a history which is the envy of many other major competition, not only in India but outside as well. The Aga Khan Tournament, for instance, is one of the oldest hockey tournaments in the world. Started in 1896, it survived the two World Wars and other major calamities, including the partition of the country but then got lost in the battle of survival with the last of the competition being staged in 1995. And even that year the tournament was left unfinished with the final between Indian Airlines and Punjab Police called off following a free for all among the contestants. It is quite another matter that the Indian Hockey Federation was far from fair in apportioning the blame. Not all the guilty players were indicted and if one remembers, the player to suffer in the main for a former Indian captain who not only received major injuries but also lost his place in the national team. It is a pity though that a major tournament in the country wound up just short of one hundred years of existence and that too on an unfinished note. The fact that the tournament ended on a violent tenor is all the more sad. There were reports that the Bombay Gymkhana was making efforts to restart the tournament and fresh dates were obtained too but somehow, the whole thing fizzled out, with the ground required for cricket. Obviously those keen on cricket had prepared the schedule well in advance while the hockey lot had been very tentative. And even if the tournament had been postponed to well after the cricket tournaments were over, the World Cup would have (as it did) descended on the country. According to reports in newspapers in Mumbai the Gymkhana would make another effort to hold the tournament in November, after the rains, and perhaps give it extra impetus by inviting foreign teams. One sincerely hopes that Mumbai will succeed in resurrecting the country’s leading hockey tournament. There is no reason why the game should suffer either because of lack of money or direction, or both. If Mumbai is unable to hold it, it may as well shift to Pune and ask Suresh Kalmadi to preside over the revival. No matter what the expenses, the Aga Khan Hockey Tournament must not be allowed to disappear from the Indian sports calendar. Another high profile tournament in dire straits is the Nehru Cup Tournament which brought big-time football into the country. Heralded as the best thing to have happened to Indian football when it was started in 1982, the tournament has since lost much of its glamour and now does not even get a mention in the annual calendar of the All-India Football Federation. Converted into once-in-two years event in the 90s, the tournament is due this year but it seems very unlikely to be held. It would be a big blow to the fans if the AIFF defaults on its commitment, particularly after the highly successful edition at Kochi in 1997. Now this is a tournament which gave football a new meaning in this country. Prior to its baptism in 1982, the fans in India knew nothing about what the game was about in the world. For them football meant what was dished out by the three Calcutta giants and some major teams like the JCT Mills, Hyderabad Police or some of the prominent Goan clubs. Doordarshan had not yet stepped in with its coverage of the World Cup. But the Nehru Cup opened the window to the world of football for Indian fans and things have changed drastically since then. The Indian fan now knows what real football is about and will not just be satisfied with the stuff dished out by Mohun Bagan. East Bengal or Mohammedan Sporting, to name just three of the top teams in the country. Those were the days when the All-India Football Federation could count on the cultural exchange programme to rope in teams from the Eastern Bloc. These teams from Poland, the USSR, Yugoslavia and Hungary contained world class players and the tournament was enriched even as the Indian fan was. But after the disintegration of the Soviet Bloc, things have changed. The AAFI has to pay in dollars and that too big sums. It is big money which controls the game now and thereby all the problems. According to reports Leisure Sports Management (LSM), the agents of AIFF, the federation would stand to lose something in the region of Rs 56 lakh from the sponsors payments in case the event fell through. “As per our terms the main sponsors like Coca Cola, UB or Hero Honda enjoy the status of co-sponsors in major events. As we are supposed to give them at least one international event each year, it will amount of a breach of contract.” But the AIFF should also make some effort. There were reports of the tournament being held in Bhubaneswar and that a few Arab countries had been approached. But obviously there has been no follow up. The federation should be more alert and ensure that the ground work should be done thoroughly. There is no point in leaving such important matters in the hands of the agents. Both the Indian Hockey Federation and the Football Federation have a responsibility to the Indian public. The Aga Khan Hockey Tournament is as much the responsibility of the IHF as the Nehru football is of the AIFF. Both the tournaments contribute to the well-being of the disciplines in the country. Both the federations
enjoy tremendous clout and the IHF in particular has
recently managed to rope the Tata Group in big way to
salvage the Junior National Hockey Tournament now in
progress in Bangalore. Agree both the Aga Khan Hockey and
Nehru Cup football face different type of problems but
the difficulties are of a nature that can be resolved.
Let not these tournaments become mere memories for lack
of effort. |
Hattricks in one-dayers PAKISTANI off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq became the second player in the world to claim a hat-trick in a World Cup match. The 23-year-old player from Lahore achieved this feat during Pakistan’s last match in the Super Six against Zimbabwe at The Oval on June 11,1999. Saqlain Mushtap joined Indian speedster Chetan Sharma, who has the distinction of recording the first hat-trick in World Cup. Chetan Sharma claimed the wickets of New Zealanders Ken Rutherford, Ian Smith and Ewan Chatfield, all bowled, at Nagpur in the 1987 World Cup. Saqlain, who holds the record of completing 200 wickets in the least number of matches, claimed the wickets of Henry Olonga, Adam Huckle and Mpumelelo. Mbangwa in the first three balls of his seventh over which was the 41st over of the Zimbabwean innings. While Olonga and Huckle were stumped by Moin Khan; Mbangwa was declared leg before by umpire Steve Buckenor. Saqlain’s hat-trick was the 13th in one day internationals. It was also his second hat-trick in one day internationals. He recorded his first hat-trick against the same team at Peshawar in 1996-97. Saqlain is the second bowler to achieve two hat-tricks in one day internationals after his skipper Wasim Akram. Pakistan’s Jalaluddin was the first bowler in the instant cricket to perform a hat-trick. He did it against Australia at Hyderabad (Pakistan) on September 20, 1982 by dismissing Rodney Marsh, Bruce Yardley and Geoff Lawson in his seventh over. Australian Bruce Reid performed the second hat-trick of one dayers when he dismissed three New Zealand batsmen, B.R. Blair, E.B. McSweeney and S.R. Gillespie in three successive balls in the World Series Cup match at Sydney on January 29,1986. In the 1987 World Cup. Chetan Sharma achieved the first hat trick in the World Cup by bowling out Ken Rutherford, Ian Smith and even Chatfield at Vidarbha Cricket Association ground, Nagpur on October 31,1987. It was the third hat trick in one dayers. Wasim Akram’s first hat-trick against the West Indies at Sharjah on October 14,1989 was fourth in instant cricket. He achieved this hat-trick by bowling out Jeoff Dujon, Malcolm Marshall and Curtly Ambrose. Incidently Ambrose’s wicket was Akram’s 100th in one day internationals. Akram’s second hat-trick came in the Australiasia Cup final against Australia at Sharjah on May 4,1990. Akram’s victims in the hat-trick were Merv Hughes, Carl Rackemann and Terry Alderman, all bowled. India’s Kapil Dev performed the sixth hat-trick of one dayers. He achieved the same against Sri Lanka in the final of the Asia Cup at Calcutta on January 4,1991. After dismissing Roshan Mahanama off the last ball of his sixth over, Kapil took the wickets of Sanath Jayasuriya and Ramesh Ratnayake off the first two balls of his seventh over to complete this feat. In the Wills Trophy final at Sharjah on October 25,1991, Pakistan’s Aaqib Javed performed the seventh hat-trick of instant cricket. He removed Ravi Shastri, Mohammed Azharuddin and Sachin Tendulkar, all leg before, off the third, fourth and fifth balls in his third over. His final figures of seven for 37 were the best in all such cricket. New Zealand’s Danny Morrison recorded the eighth hat-trick against India at Napier on March 25,1994. His victims were Kapil Dev, Salil Ankola and Nayan Mongia. Pakistan’s Waqar Younis performed the ninth hat-trick in instant cricket. He dismissed the last three New Zealand batsmen, Chris Harris, Chris Pringle and Richard de Groen by his late moving inswingers at East London on December 12,1994 in the Mandela Trophy. The only spinner to perform a hat-trick in one dayer is Pakistan’s Saqlain Mushtaq. Saqlain achieved his first hat-trick against Zimbabwe on November 3,1996 at Peshawar by removing Grant Flower, John Rennie and Guy Whittal in his sixth over. He took four wickets off five balls in the match. Eddo Brandes’ hat-trick against England at Harare on January 3,1997 was the 11th in instant cricket. Brandes’ first victim was the left handed opening batsman Nick Knight. That was the last ball of Brandes’ second over and in the third over he had John Crawley and Nasser Hussain off the first and second ball respectively. It was the first hat-trick by a Zimbabwean bowler in one day internationals and the first against England. The last bowler to perform a hat-trick was Australian Anthony Stuart. Playing only his third match Rookie fast bowler Anthony Stuart picked up a hat-trick against Pakistan at Sydney on January 16,1997. He was the second Australian and 11th bowler in the world to perform a hat-trick in one day internationals. He produced three leg
cutters that brought edges from Ijaz Ahmed, Mohammed
Wasim and Moin Khan on the third, fourth and fifth ball
of his sixth over. It was the first hat-trick against
Pakistan in one dayers. |
Will Paes-Bhupathi win
Wimbledon? INDIAN tennis fans will be keenly interested in Leander Paes-Bhupathi’s progress at the forthcoming Wimbledon Championships that sets rolling at the All- England Club on June 21. The world No. 1 Indian duo has just achieved the twin ambition of claiming the maiden grand slam title at French Open and becoming numero uno in world doubles rankings. Both Leander and Bhupathi are good grass court players individually. They have already proved their mettle as a crack doubles team both at clay as well as hard courts. The Indians reached the finals of this year’s Australian Open in which they stumbled at the last hurdle against highly fancied Patrick Rafter and Jonas Bjorkman. Before this they entered four out of five grand-slam semi-finals without a win. Now the Indian pair will be aiming to repeat their French Open feat on their favourite surface at Wimbledon. For close to two years, “the Indian express”, as the deadly duo like to call themselves, have been waiting on the doorsteps of grand slam success. Bhupathi did win the mixed doubles title at the same venue — Roland Garros — in 1997, but it was not good enough to satiate the fans’ hunger at home and abroad. It will remain etched in the minds for many years to come that they are the nation’s first grand slam winners as a team — a feat which could not be achieved even by Indian tennis most respect families — Krishnans and Amaritrajs. For any pair to jell in doubles, it is not enough if they match just in tennis terms. Apart from technique, tact and even temper, what is needed is strong bounding. Leander and Bhupathi are two pros who care for each other. The way they came together as a pair is in itself a story which can be told to future generations where one player (Leander), with a much higher ranking, decided to opt for a partner with a lower ranking. It just reflects Leander’s thinking abilities. However, just a few weeks ago, they was serious media speculation about fissures creeping in the relationship of the two Indian maestros. In a season of mistrust and disappointments, it is amazing to see how the best Indian combination ever has bounced back in such a grand fashion. Indian tennis fans will just be hoping that Roland Garros is just the beginning of more grand slam success. And Wimbledon will only facilitate the Indian combination to emerge as more strongly bonded team than ever before. In men’s singles competitions, the battle for the Wimbledon crown will be more intense this year what with the No. 1 ranking being up for grabs. Pete Sampras might have been dethroned by Yevgeny Kafelnikov, but when it comes to Wimbledon, there is no stronger pre-tournament favourite than the American. Although Richard Krajicek annexed the title from Sampras last year, but this time around “Pistol pete” will be more than keen to thwart the defending champion’s designs, simply because the American has had a pretty average year so far by his own standards. Ranked No. 2 at present, Sampras is yet to pocket his first ATP title of 1999. Moreover, by winning Wimbledon, the American would like to regain his No. 1 ranking that he lost to Kafelnikov last month. He also needs to prove his critics wrong that he has become more vulnerable than ever before, given his string of losses in the current year including a few of them to some lowly ranked players. Andre Agassi, another effervescent American, who is trying to rediscover his old magical form will be the player to watch out for. Fresh from his French Open victory, the former Wimbledon champion would be keen to prove that he is one of the more versatile players who can do it both at clay as well as grass. Agassi would also like to use Wimbledon as an ideal launching pad to vault him once again in the top-10 bracket. Patrick Rafter, who is eyeing to be world No. 1 this year, should count himself among the front-runners for the title. Similarly Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek and American, Michael, Chang and Todd Martin, must also be training their sights on the crown. Others expected to make a mark include Thomas Enqvist, Tim Henman, Goran Ivanisevic, Mark Philippoussis and Petr Korda. In the women’s section, though there may not be many contenders for the title, yet the interest among top five to six players would be at its peak. Martina Hingis clearly enjoys an edge over others because she has hit top form just at the right time. The world No.1 Swiss player won the French Open in style to prove that she is back to her winning ways. Among Hingis’
strong challengers would include. Steffi Graf, Monica
Seles, Lindsay Davenport, Jana Novotana and the
ever-enthusiastic Williams sisters, Venus and Serena.
Graf’s graph at the the Wimbledon would be of
special interest to her fans after her remarkable
comeback performance at French Open where she lost a
nail-biting three-setter to Hingis in the finals. |
Sport Mail The recent defeats of the Indian cricket team at the hands of Zimbabwe and Australia earned a bad name for the country. The team which created records and scored many hundreds was dictated terms by less equipped teams. It is unfortunate that the only team to score three hundred plus twice and the only team to score 250 odd runs against World Cup favourites South Africa is being branded as a bunch of irresponsible players. It will be cruel to blame Azhar alone. Many big-wigs have conspired to arrange defeat for the formidable batting side. Otherwise it defies logic that a team which scored centuries and three hundred plus twice could not find a place in the semis. ASHOK KUMAR Klusener’s feat Favourites South Africa scored a four-wicket win over India on May 15. The winning shot came from SA allrounder Lance Klusener. Again on May 19 SA beat Sri Lanka by 89 runs at Northampton (England) in which Lance Klusener scored 42 no. Against England Klusener scored 48 no, and 52 no against Zimbabwe. The most significant performance of Lance Klusener was against Pakistan at Trent Bridge (June 6) when he hit 44 runs in five overs to clinch victory. Interestingly the winning shot against Pakistan also came from Klusener. In short, Klusener has the unique distinction of achieving a hat-trick by hitting winning shots against India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. SUNDER SINGH Sachin Tendulkar Sachin slammed an unbeaten 140 runs in just 101 balls against Kenya just five days after the death of his father. Well done Sachin! You are really a gem, a true patriot, who did it after a great personal loss. You are really the heart-throb of millions of Indians. I hope in future, you achieve many more feats. SUNITA PARIHAR II Kudos to little master, Sachin Tendulkar for crossing the 1000-run mark in World Cup and also for becoming only the second Indian to score 8000 runs in one-day international. Sachin achieved both these milestones in the match that India played against Pakistan. Sachin was not in the best of form in this World Cup and understandably so because he lost his father during the World Cup. UMESH DEWAN Paes-Bhupathi duo Hats off its India’s brilliant duo of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi for making history and bringing laurels to India by winning the first-ever Grand Slam doubles title at the French Open. Even the euphoria of the cricket World Cup was unable to eclipse their grand effort. By their win every Indian felt proud. By virtue of this victory they have become the top seeds in men’s doubles. With this win the duo also put to rest all disturbing controversies of a rift between them. Now, it is the turn of the government to reward them. SUMAN SALHOTRA |
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