Match Fixing Scandal: India-South Africa 2000 Series Fixed, Notes Delhi Court

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Match Fixing Scandal: A Delhi court has framed charges against four individuals in connection with the notorious 2000 cricket match-fixing scandal, revealing that several matches during the India-South Africa test and ODI series were fixed, with attempts made to manipulate other fixtures as well.

The series, which included two test matches and five one-day internationals held between February 19 and March 19, 2000, was marred by corruption. The court noted that the investigation confirmed the fixing of certain matches and attempts to fix others.

Regarding the first test match in Mumbai (February 24-28), the court cited evidence showing 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.

In the second test match in Bengaluru (March 2-6), although Hansie Cronje had discussions with other players about fixing the match, it ultimately was not fixed, despite significant attempts to do so.

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

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

The fifth ODI on March 19 in Nagpur was another focal point of the court's findings. 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.

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