Delhi: While framing charges against four accused in the 2000 cricket match-fixing scandal, a Delhi court said that some matches of the India-South Africa Test and ODI series were fixed and attempts were made to fix other matches. Two Tests and five ODIs were played between February 19 and March 19, 2000. The court said, “The investigation also concluded that some matches were fixed and attempts were made to fix some other matches.”

Referring to the investigation, the court said, “In the first Test match played in Mumbai from 24 to 28 February, it was decided that the South African team would not score more than 250 runs in an innings, and this is also clear from the statements of Peter Strydom and Hansie Cronje before the Kings Commission.” On the second Test match played in Bengaluru from 2 to 6 March, the court said, “Although Hansie Cronje had talked to other players as per the statements given before the Kings Commission, this match was not fixed, although attempts were made to fix it.” Referring to the evidence presented, the court said that the first ODI match played in Kochi on March 9 was fixed.

Was India vs South Africa match fixed?

It said, “The recorded conversation on 16 March 2000, in which Hansie Cronje is seen demanding his outstanding payments and admitting to having received money from Sanjeev Chawla, clearly proves that the first ODI was fixed.”

The court said, “The statement made by Hansie Cronje before the King's Commission that he had informed Sanjay (alias Sanjeev Chawla) about losing the first ODI is also corroborated by the statements made by other persons before the King's Commission.”

“Thus, though the matches were not fixed, it can be inferred that Hansie Cronje assisted the accused by providing inside information and helped them to speculate and earn huge profits,” the court said.