International cricket is desperately trying to save some face after years of ridicule at the hands of numerous match-fixing scandals. And with the recent jail terms handed to the Pakistani cricketers, probably the most scandalous of all match-fixing cases is set to be reopened: the Hansie Cronje archives.
Indian government officials close to the case have told the Deccan Chronicle that an investigation into the match-fixing saga involving former late South African skipper, Wessel Johannes “Hansie” Cronje, would resume.
The paper has said that certain Indian and overseas cricketers and cricket administrators have already been questioned in respect of the matter, and that they feel nothing to start the investigation right from the beginning again, minus Hansie of course.
After being forced to step down as South African captain in 1999, Hansie’s life ended in a plane crash in the Outeniqua Mountains in bad weather.
The Chronicle reports:
British authorities recently responded to a 2007 letter rogatory sent by Delhi Police seeking details about another key suspect, London-based bookie Sanjiv Chawla.
The British authorities have given some details Delhi Police feels could be crucial in a further probe. Delhi Police crime branch had intercepted cell phone conversations of Cronje.
It has now emerged that the cell phone actually belonged to Delhi bookie Rajesh Kalra. Cronje used the phone to talk to several people in Mumbai and New Delhi, most of who were subsequently tracked by the crime branch.
He was heard talking team composition and other key aspects related to a match.
It’s no big secret that Delhi police have never been fully satisfied with the outcome from the initial investigations into the matter, so it’s little surprise that they’re looking at things in a different light now, post a few prosecutions.
[Source: DeccanChronicle]
