1996 World Cup semi-final was fixed, implies http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Vinod-Ganpat-Kambli-c95376 – Cricket News Update
Vinod Kambli, the former Indian cricketer, has finally broken the silence after 15-years and claimed that the 1996 World Cup semi-final between http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758, played at Eden Gardens, Kolkata was forged.
Kambli questioned the then skipper of Indian team, Mohammed Azharuddin's decision to field first after winning the toss. The 39-year-old divulged that during team meetings, prior to game, it was decided that they would bat first
if toss went their way.
Kambli, who took part in a debate aired on Start News, said, “I will never forget the 1996 match because my career ended after this. I was stunned by India's decision to field. We had been playing well during the entire World Cup
and even defeated the likes of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 to reach the semi-final. Our openers were all set to bat, however, we learnt we had to field.”
Sri Lankans were awarded the victory in the semi-final, as the match could not be completed. Lankans set a competitive total of 251 runs for Indians to chase after Azharuddin invited them to bat. The Men in Blue, in their reply,
lost wickets at regular intervals. The crowd lost their temper, when India lost the eighth wicket with just 120 runs on the board.
The local crowd, seeing their side crumble, went berserk and started throwing bottles on the field, which forced the match referee, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clive-Hubert-Lloyd-c51327 to intervene and declare Lankans as winners by default. It was the first default in
cricket history.
Sensing something fishy in the way his fellow batsmen got out, Kambli noted, “I was standing on one side and on the other end my fellow batsman was telling me that we would chase the target. However, soon after they quickly got
out one by one. I don't know what transpired. Something was definitely amiss. However, I was not given a chance to speak and was dropped soon after.”
Kambli, who’s dream of winning a World Cup for his country were shattered that day, alleged that he was used as a scapegoat by those involved in this act.
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