The International Cricket Council (ICC) President Sharad Pawar joined the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in dismissing former player Vinod Kambli’s claims of possible corruption in India’s 1996 World Cup semi-final loss to Sri Lanka.
Kambli recently told a television channel he had doubts about some of the decisions, including opting to bat first, taken in the Kolkata match, which Sri Lanka won by default following crowd trouble.
Chasing 252 for victory, India slumped to 120 for eight before a violent crowd stopped the game.
Pawar had his doubts about Kambli’s allegations.
“If he’s an honest cricketer, he should’ve informed all,” he said. “I honestly feel his allegations are irresponsible. I would rather go by what former India captains Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar or Ajit Wadekar say.”
The BCCI also joined in ruling out any wrongdoing in the match.
Sports Minister Ajay Maken, however, called for a probe into the allegations.
“His claims should be properly investigated and if something wrong has happened then the culprits should be punished.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 20th, 2011.
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