Vinod Kambli: 1996 World Cup semi final was fixed
Kambli suspects 1996 WC semifinal was fixed
1996 WC semi-final was fixed: Kambli
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| Vinod Kambli |
Former Indian cricketer Vinod Kambli has alleged that the historic 1996 World Cup semi-final between India and Sri Lanka, which the former lost badly, was fixed, reported an Indian website. In a TV show, Kambli said he was suspicious of the then captain Mohammad Azharuddin’s decision to field first even though batting was the norm after winning the toss in those days.
Batting first, Sri Lanka had set a target of 252 for India. In reply, India too started badly as Chamindas Vaas got rid of Navjot Sidhu at eight. However, with Sachin Tendulkar in full command at the crease, India hoped for a comfortable entry into the final.
However, Sanath Jayasuriya bowled a magical spell and very soon India were reduced from 98/1 to 120/8 that made Kolkata fans go berserk with anger and disappointment. The fanatic cricket buffs set the chairs of Eden Gardens on fire and hurled bottles at the Lankan players in protest against India’s collapse, forcing match referee Clive Llyod to award the match to the visitors.
It was one of India’s most heart-breaking defeats in ODI history with cricket pundits attributing the loss to Indian skipper Azharuddin for inviting Sri Lanka to bat.
Azharuddin and Ajay Jadeja, both serving ban by the ICC for match fixing, were out for duck in the match.
Very few can forget the tears of Kambli after Sri Lanka was declared the winner. “I cried because I thought I was robbed of a chance to do it for my country. The entire team hugged me. Most of us were crying,” he recalled.
Batting first, Sri Lanka had set a target of 252 for India. In reply, India too started badly as Chamindas Vaas got rid of Navjot Sidhu at eight. However, with Sachin Tendulkar in full command at the crease, India hoped for a comfortable entry into the final.
However, Sanath Jayasuriya bowled a magical spell and very soon India were reduced from 98/1 to 120/8 that made Kolkata fans go berserk with anger and disappointment. The fanatic cricket buffs set the chairs of Eden Gardens on fire and hurled bottles at the Lankan players in protest against India’s collapse, forcing match referee Clive Llyod to award the match to the visitors.
It was one of India’s most heart-breaking defeats in ODI history with cricket pundits attributing the loss to Indian skipper Azharuddin for inviting Sri Lanka to bat.
Azharuddin and Ajay Jadeja, both serving ban by the ICC for match fixing, were out for duck in the match.
Very few can forget the tears of Kambli after Sri Lanka was declared the winner. “I cried because I thought I was robbed of a chance to do it for my country. The entire team hugged me. Most of us were crying,” he recalled.
Fifteen years after a crying Vinod Kambli walked off the Eden Gardens when the World Cup semifinal against Sri Lanka was stopped due to crowd violence with India on the verge of defeat, the batsman has hinted the game could’ve been fixed.
The match was eventually abandoned and awarded to sri lanka. “I was stunned by India’s decision to field,” Kambli told Star News during a debate on former ICC anti-corruption unit chief Paul Condon’s claim that many teams were monitored for fixing in the late 1990s
Ajit Wadekar, who was the team manager then, said the game was clean. Indian skipper Mohammad Azharuddin surprisingly chose to bowl first. “I’ll never forget the match because my career ended after it. I was stunned by the decision to field,” Kambli said. “I was standing on one side and on the other end my fellow batsman was telling me that we would chase the target,” the channel quoted the retired player as saying. “However, soon after they quickly got out one by one. I don't know what transpired.”
Vinod Kambli has alleged that the historic 1996 World Cup semi-final between India and Sri Lanka, which the former lost badly, was fixed. In a TV show, Kambli said he was suspicious of the then captain Azharuddin’s decision to field first even though batting was the norm after winning the toss in those days.
Batting first Sri Lanka had set a target of 252 for India. In reply, India too started badly as Chamindas Vaas got rid of Navjot Sidhu at the score of 8. However, with genius Sachin Tendulkar in full command at the crease, India hoped for a comfortable entry into the final.
However, Sanath Jayasuriya bowled a magical spell and very India were reduced from 98/1 to 120/8 that made Kolkata fans go berserk with anger and disappointment. The fanatic cricket buffs set the chairs of Eden Gardens on fire and hurled bottles at the Lankan players in protest against India’s collapse, forcing match referee Clive Llyod to award the match to the visitors.
It was one of India’s most heart-breaking defeats in ODI history with cricket pundits attributing the loss to Indian skipper Azharuddin for inviting Sri Lanka to bat. Azharuddin and Ajay Jadeja, both serving ban by the ICC for match fixing, were out for duck in the match.
Very few can forget the tears of Kambli after Sri Lanka was declared the winner. “I cried because I thought I was robbed of a chance to do it for my country. The entire team hugged me. Most of us were crying,” he recalled.
“Something was definitely amiss. However, I was not given a chance to speak and was dropped soon after. Our team manager at that time, Wadekar, was aware of everything.”
“I did not even think there was anything suspicious in that loss. It was purely because we misread the wicket and were slightly overconfident after beating Pakistan in the quarterfinal,” Wadekar told HT.
“Why did he wake up suddenly after 15 years? During my four-and-half year stint (with the national team), I used to frequently have dinner with Vinod. Had he told me about his suspicions then, I would have requested the board to probe the matter.”
Kambli, who watched the batsmen fall like ninepins, said it’s decided in the team meeting that India would bat first if they won the toss.
Wadekar said: “During the team meeting, only (Navjot Singh) Sidhu and I felt the wicket would deteriorate and that we should bat first. However, a majority of the bunch felt a wicket couldn't deteriorate much.
“I did not even think there was anything suspicious in that loss. It was purely because we misread the wicket and were slightly overconfident after beating Pakistan in the quarterfinal,” Wadekar told HT.
“Why did he wake up suddenly after 15 years? During my four-and-half year stint (with the national team), I used to frequently have dinner with Vinod. Had he told me about his suspicions then, I would have requested the board to probe the matter.”
Kambli, who watched the batsmen fall like ninepins, said it’s decided in the team meeting that India would bat first if they won the toss.
Wadekar said: “During the team meeting, only (Navjot Singh) Sidhu and I felt the wicket would deteriorate and that we should bat first. However, a majority of the bunch felt a wicket couldn't deteriorate much.
The BCCI secretary Sanjay Jagdale declined to respond to Kambli's allegations.
MUMBAI (Agencies) - Former Indian batsman Vinod Kambli has claimed that the 1996 World Cup semi-final between India and Sri Lanka was fixed.
Kambli who was an important part of the 1996 World Cup squad made this claim on an India news channel. Kambli said he was shocked at the Indian decision to field first in the semi-final because the pitch was ideal for batting. Vinod Kambli has alleged that the historic 1996 World Cup semi-final between India and Sri Lanka, which the former lost badly, was fixed. In a TV show, Kambli said he was suspicious of the then captain Azharuddin’s decision to field first even though batting was the norm after winning the toss in those days.
Batting first Sri Lanka had set a target of 252 for India. In reply, India too started badly as Chamindas Vaas got rid of Navjot Sidhu at the score of 8. However, with genius Sachin Tendulkar in full command at the crease, India hoped for a comfortable entry into the final.
However, Sanath Jayasuriya bowled a magical spell and very India were reduced from 98/1 to 120/8 that made Kolkata fans go berserk with anger and disappointment. The fanatic cricket buffs set the chairs of Eden Gardens on fire and hurled bottles at the Lankan players in protest against India’s collapse, forcing match referee Clive Llyod to award the match to the visitors.
It was one of India’s most heart-breaking defeats in ODI history with cricket pundits attributing the loss to Indian skipper Azharuddin for inviting Sri Lanka to bat. Azharuddin and Ajay Jadeja, both serving ban by the ICC for match fixing, were out for duck in the match.
Very few can forget the tears of Kambli after Sri Lanka was declared the winner. “I cried because I thought I was robbed of a chance to do it for my country. The entire team hugged me. Most of us were crying,” he recalled.
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