The India vs South Africa 2000 series has come under intense scrutiny following allegations of match-fixing. The Delhi Court recently declared that several games from both the Test and ODI series were indeed fixed, implicating four individuals in the scandal.
Delhi court says India vs South Africa 2000 series was fixed
The series, held from February 19 to March 19, 2000, included two Test matches and five ODIs. South Africa clinched the Test series 2-0, marking the first time in thirteen years that a visiting team won a series in India. Meanwhile, India secured the ODI series with a 3-2 victory. However, the integrity of these matches has been severely questioned following the court’s findings.
The first Test in Mumbai, played from February 24 to 28, was fixed with South Africa limiting their score to not more than 250 runs in an innings. The second Test in Bengaluru, held from March 2 to 6, was nearly fixed by South African captain Hansie Cronje. The first ODI in Kochi on March 9 was also declared a fixed match by the court.
Recorded conversations from March 16, 2000, revealed Hansie Cronje demanding outstanding payments, further corroborating the fixing allegations. Cronje’s statements before the King’s Commission admitted to receiving money from Sanjeev Chawla, shedding light on the extent of the scandal. The court’s verdict, cited by India Today, highlighted Cronje’s involvement and the testimonies of others before the King’s Commission, which supported the match-fixing claims.
This scandal not only tarnishes the memory of the series but also underscores the serious issues of integrity within cricket. The Bengaluru Test was notably the last match played by Hansie Cronje, who faced significant backlash following the revelations.
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