Eyebrows raised at India's capitulation

Peter Robinson

October 18, 2001

Just a day after Hansie Cronje had an attempt to overturn his life ban from cricket dismissed, his legacy to the game became apparent when questions began to surface about the validity of Kenya's shock 70-run win over India in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday.

By coincidence members of the International Cricket Council's Anti-Corruption Unit are in South Africa at present, liaising with the World Cup Security Directorate. Almost inevitably following Wednesday, a rumour that the ACU is to look into the game made an appearance.

It is believed that the ACU has requested a tape of the game, although this sort of evidence tends neither to confirm nor conceal the possibility that batsmen may have given their wickets away deliberately.

The real problem, of course, is that post-Hansiegate anything out of the ordinary is now seen with some scepticism. An ICC spokesman said on Thursday that details of investigations were not made public as a matter of course, an understandable approach, but one that also allows speculation to bloom.

Maintaining a low profile or working undercover is perfectly understandable, but surely there is an argument for visible policing, if only to serve as a deterrent to players or individuals whose intentions are not entirely above board.

In the meantime, just a little of the gloss has been taken away from Kenya's victory while a shadow of suspicion has fallen over India.

Sourav Ganguly's side will have a chance to lay some of the doubt to rest against a South African team that has taken 15 players to East London for Friday's Standard Bank Series match.

Quite who will sit out for the South Africans with Nantie Hayward now in the squad is unclear. One view is that Hayward will be held back for next Friday's final in Durban, a theory that does explain why he was drafted into the squad.

If he does play, then will Andre Nel or Justin Kemp or Charl Langeveldt sit out and with Gary Kirsten also rejoining the South African camp, will Boeta Dippenaar find himself back carrying drinks once again?

The Indians, meanwhile, need to demonstrate that Wednesday's feebleness was neither deliberate nor a signal that the team has slipped into decline. Their problem, of course, is that if they play well on Friday it will simply serve to raise more questions about Wednesday's defeat.

© Cricinfo

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Series/Tournaments

Kenya tour of South Africa

India tour of South Africa

Standard Bank Triangular Tournament

Teams

India

South Africa