Vinod Kambli has opted it is the time to express what he has in his mind.Just recently the contone has reported that most of the matches in eighties and nineties were fixed and three Pakistani cricketers were penalized for match fixing.
Kambli has alleged that the Semi Final Match against Sri Lanka in 1996 was fixed. He says that in the team meeting India had decided to bat first, but then Captain Mohammed Azharuddeen opted to field first after winning the toss. Reading this news in news paper, memories of the match has come to my mind and I couldn’t help but pen some of my memories of the match that I hate to remember.
I am a fan of Cricket since 1981.I used to follow almost all the international cricket matches with much interest. India couldn’t repeat its success of 1983 world cup in 1987 & 1991.When the world cup was hosted jointly by India Pakistan and Sri Lanka we were all expecting that India will regain the world cup.Sri Lanka rather surprisingly became the black horse of the tournament with some drastic experiments of explosive bating in the beginning of the innings.Jaya Soorya and Kaluvitharana were doing wonders. But Indian hopes reached great heights when they had a thumping victory over Pakistan and reached Semi finals of the tournament.
India was expected to stage the same team that had defeated Pakistan and was expected to bat first. Kolkata Eaden Garden pitch was expected to take spin and it will be great difficult to chase a targets especially under light. I was then working at Kasaragod Collectorate as Upper Division Clerk. That was a working day and I had taken Half day Casual Leave for watching the day night semi final encounter. On reaching house first ball was about to bowl, rather shockingly India opted fielding after winning the toss.Venkatpathi Raju who was brilliant against Pak in the Quarter final was dropped and Ajay Sharma the right arm spinner was included in the squad. We felt pity for Raju who couldn’t control his joy in front of the T V camera on winning the previous match. He showed his two fingers and indicated that he will show it in the next match too. But for some reason he had to sit outside. We were worried about batting second in the turning track. Much for the surprise of the Indian fans Jaya Soorya and Kaluvitharana were out on consecuantive balls both caught at third man trying a wild heave at the ball pitched outside the off stump. India was much releaved to see the back of these two players because these two players sealed India’s hope in the league round. Thus the captain justified his decision to fetid first,Lanka was on the back foot and Indian hopes reached its peak. But India couldn’t keep the tempo going as Aravinda D silva and Co steered the team past 250 in the stipulated fifty overs thanks for some poor India bowling. Target looked getable, but I worried to see the ball turning and pitch report that it will turn much more during the later part of the match and it is always difficult to bat under light and to chase a target in a do or die match.
After the break I still remember that cloudy day and there was thunder and lightning and finally power supply failed much for my disappointment. Although India lost early wicket that of Siddhu India was chasing positively with Tendulkar going with great guns well supported by Manjrekar.India was approaching hundred at a reasonable average of 5 runs per over.Tendulkar was dismissed unfortunately stumped. Then started the procession of Indian batsmen Suddenly it happened what I was dreaded. Indian batsman were struggling to score,pitch started taking spin ,and the balls were seen beating the bat and Indian batsmen had no clue but to surrender. I was listening to Radio commentary with heart coming to my mouth,cursing the Indian batsmen deeply frustrated. India were down to 119 for 8.But as an ardent lover and follower of Indian team I was still hoping the impossible with Vinod Kambli at crease. Because cricket is a game of uncertainty I still hoped that India had a chance. But the Eaden Garden crowd thought otherway ,they misbehaved and caused to stop the match. Match was abandoned and Lanka was declared victorious.Vinod Kambli left the crease with tears.
It looked an ordinary cricket match as such things are common in the glorious game of uncertainty.
I analyesed the match several times and there was something that heartened me and still be leave that that was the worst match I remember India played ever since 1981 till date. I am not referring at the performance level but the way in which India surrendered despite home advantage, toss advantage and early break advantage. First of fall toss. Everybody who now about the Eden Garden wicket will choose to bat first especially in a day night match and this was absolutely fixed on the mind of all cricket lovers actually the toss advantage was handed over to Ranatunga.It was said that India was afraid of Jayasoorya and Kaluvitharana for their explosive batting and thought that they will seal the match just like they did in league round with their hara-kiri batting. This I thing was absolutely stupid. Because they could have done it even if they bat first. Secondly India added Ajay Sharma who was lacking match practice and was later alleged for his involvement in match fixing. I still remember Ajay was dropping the ball in the middle stump and turning it to down the leg side for a couple of boundaries to fine leg that helped Aravinda Disilva to settle down. Although Ajay was seen turning the ball appreciably he proved expensive and was seen offering some easy runs. The reason in support of his selection ahead of Raju was that he is a much better turner of the ball than Raju and he will exploit the turning track of Eden .But that was not to be. Another thing was that Azhar was seen completely relaxed during the match while all the players and cores of Indian supports were under tremendous tension. The captain was toggling with the ball in legs during the match.There were occassion when captain handed over the ball to his bowler with legs.That was in my opinion is not befitting a captain in a serious match. He was seen in a famous tourist destination at Mercara in South Canara on the very next day of the match with his beautiful girl friend Sangeetha as if it was pre planned.Kambli’s tear was actually symbolic of the tears of many many Indian Cricket lovers. Not only that world cup matches are followed by patriots also due to its wide coverage. As a cricket lover that was restless, wildest and darkest night I had. Power supply was not restored till the next day. I didn’t see the highlights of the match till date but the scene of Kambli leaving the field with tears I still keep in my memory as a dark patch in Indian Cricket. On hearing his revelation about the match I could reveal what I thought and suspected about the match.
I don’t know how much truth is there in the revelation but honestly hope to have a probe into the incident. Poor Amir was forced to bowl a no ball with the direction of the senior players and his career is at stake. But what about the possibility of players cheating and betraying a nation ?.......................!!!!!!!
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