The South African team that visited India created history in the Test series held during November and made a clean sweep by defeating Team India 2-0. This crushing defeat also freshened the wounds of that 25 year old defeat, when the South African team had defeated India 2-0. However, after that defeat, the issue of match fixing came to light, which shook the entire world. This was in April 2000, when serious allegations of match fixing were made against the cricket teams of India and South Africa. Let us introduce you to the whole matter.

How did the match fixing scandal start?

In the year 2000, Delhi Police taped a suspicious phone call during its routine security check. This call was of a conversation between the then South African captain Hansie Cronje and a bookie. When the police recorded this conversation, match fixing was revealed. Clear information was received in the call as to how the players will take the money and play in the prescribed manner, how many runs will be scored as per the set score, and what will be the team’s strategy. When Delhi Police made this recording public, after this revelation the ICC and all the national cricket boards decided to further tighten the anti-corruption rules.

Hansie Cronje initially denied the allegations, but later admitted that he fixed matches by taking money from bookies. After this confession, he was banned from cricket for life. Hansie Cronje died in a plane crash in 2002.

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Which Indian players’ names came out?

As new revelations continued to emerge, the Indian cricket team also came under suspicion. The case was handed over to CBI, in which the names of many Indian players came to light. These included Ajay Jadeja, Mohammad Azharuddin, Manoj Prabhakar and Ajay Sharma. Cricket fans were surprised when the names of such big players came forward.

After investigation, Mohammad Azharuddin and Ajay Sharma were banned for life. Whereas Ajay Jadeja and Manoj Prabhakar were banned for five years each. Although all the players were banned from playing cricket, no legal case was registered.

What were the changes in cricket rules?

Strict monitoring of players: During matches or tournaments, their movements and suspicious calls started being monitored.

Security of team hotels increased: Entry of suspicious persons and bookies was banned. The team was given a separate floor and strong surveillance.

No contact with bookies: Players were given clear instructions not to contact any bookie or bookie.

ICC Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU): Which keeps a strict vigil on the players, team and management so that crimes like match fixing do not happen again.

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