2000 Cricket Scandal: Delhi Court Charges Four In India-South Africa Series Fixing

Charges have been framed against four individuals by a Delhi court in the infamous 2000 cricket match-fixing scandal. The court revealed that several matches during the India-South Africa test and ODI series were manipulated, with attempts made to fix other fixtures as well.

The first ODI on March 9 in Kochi was identified as fixed. Recorded conversations from March 16, 2000, where Hansie Cronje demanded outstanding payments, alongside his admission to the King's Commission of receiving money from Sanjeev Chawla, provided clear evidence. Cronje's statements about informing Chawla of their intention to lose the match further corroborated this.

The second test match in Bengaluru (March 2-6) saw Hansie Cronje discussing fixing with other players. However, despite significant attempts, the match was not fixed. This was a notable point in the court's findings.

The fifth ODI on March 19 in Nagpur was another focal point. Recorded conversations indicated that Cronje had agreed to fix both the match score and individual scores, promising Herschelle Gibbs and Williams $15,000 each. Although the players did not follow through due to the game's intensity, it was evident that a serious attempt to fix the match was made.

For the second ODI in Jamshedpur (March 12), third ODI in Faridabad (March 15), and fourth ODI in Baroda (March 17), while these matches were not fixed, Cronje's statements indicated he provided inside information to assist the accused in placing profitable bets.

Financial Transactions

The court also uncovered large sums of foreign exchange transferred via hawala transactions among the accused. These funds were intended for South African players involved in the conspiracy.

The series included two test matches and five one-day internationals held between February 19 and March 19, 2000. The court noted that investigations confirmed certain matches were fixed and attempts were made to fix others.

Regarding the first test match in Mumbai (February 24-28), evidence showed that the South African team was instructed not to score more than 250 runs in an inning. This conclusion was supported by statements from Pieter Strydom and Hansie Cronje before the King's Commission.

This scandal has highlighted significant corruption within cricket during that period. The detailed investigation has brought forth crucial evidence against those involved.