‘NEW ZEALAND WILL WIN THE MATCH. AZHAR WILL BE RUN OUT’

Tehelka was the first to blow the lid off the match-fixing scandal involving indian cricketers. Excerpts from Fallen Heroes, of an explosive chat between Manoj Prabhakar and the then BCCI secretary Jayawant Lele

Prabhakar: I’m totally depressed. Sir, I am not against anyone. I don’t know what I shall do, and what…to reveal it.

Lele: Even we don’t know what the brief of cbi is for this investigation. Actually, what we thought…what we thought, that the government will institute a separate court. Special court. What happens in a special court? There are eight judges. You go and depose before them. Then in the worst case, woh sabko reham karenge (they will acquit everyone). See, I can tell you…

Prabhakar: You know the person…

Lele: You and I know the person. Now, I’m telling you one-to-one. In this team, the only top person is Sachin. Now, I will tell you something. This is a fact, 200 percent. I was told about this the moment it happened. This is related to the India versus New Zealand match in Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka. The other day at night, 6:30 or so, Anshuman (Gaekwad) received a phone call…said, “You are losing tomorrow. New Zealand will win the match. Jadeja and Azhar will be run out.”

‘If there are any people involved, if there are any black sheep among them, there are only three names — Azhar, Jadeja and Kapil’

Prabhakar: Where was that? In Sri Lanka?

Lele: New Zealand versus India. It was a qualifying match.

Prabhakar: Which was the other team?

Lele: Sri Lanka. Then he (Gaekwad) couldn’t believe his ears. He said, “What are you talking? We’ve beaten New Zealand once. There is no question about our losing. We’ll beat them hands down.” He (the caller) said, “No, I’m telling you it’s a fact. You want to be a part to it?” Anshuman thought for a while, then he abused him and put the phone down. He sensed something…he smelled something amiss. At 2 o’clock in the night, this was at 12 in the night, he was not able to sleep. So at 2 o’clock at night, he went to Sachin’s room. “Sachin, aisa aisa hai, phone aaya tha…bolo toh, kaisa lagta hai (I got this phone call and what do you feel)? It’s up to you now. You are going to open the innings.” He said, “I will snatch an Indian victory.” You will not believe, whatever was decided, same thing happened next day. Azharuddin was run out. Jadeja was run out. But Sachin was playing. He saw to it that India won the game. And we reached the final.

The final was against Sri Lanka. We have never ever won a match against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka. At night, again the same person phoned. He said, “I don’t know what happened yesterday…means two days back…but you won the game. But tomorrow India is definitely not going to win. Sri Lanka are going to be the champions.” Anshuman again went to Sachin. Told him the same thing. And we won again. Two consecutive matches.

Prabhakar: Only man. All alone?

Lele: Woh akela hi hai (Sachin is all alone). All this you are telling openly. Mere paas koi proof nahin hai. Main kya boloon ki black sheep kaun hai (I don’t have any proof, what will I say who is the black sheep)?

Each and every person who is top (sic) in the board is aware. Agar isme se koi phasne walle honge, agar koi black sheep hai, to teen hi naam hai (If there are some people involved, if there are any black sheep among them, there are only three names) — Azhar, Jadeja and Kapil.

Prabhakar: Azhar…

Lele: Jadeja and Kapil Dev. What is Jadeja, (SIC) is all Kapil.

Prabhakar: Sir, everybody knows, sir.

Lele: How else would I give you the names? But I don’t have any proof. I don’t have any proof. I don’t even have the hearsay….

Prabhakar: That’s why I am suffering.

Lele: Who’s doing it, everybody knows. Nobody can speak out. Do you mean to say Mr Dalmiya does not know?

Source : tehelka.com

Post by Proud Of Being An Indian.