Chandrachud absolves players, raps Prabhakar

The report, which also considered several managers8217; reports submitted since 1991, will be tabled at the coming BCCI working committee in Calcutta on December 14 for further action.

Chandrachud has deliberated upon each of Prabhakar8217;s charges, in particular his sensational claim that a teammate had offered him Rs 25 lakh to play poorly against arch-rivals Pakistan during the 1994 Singer Cup. Observing that a number of his allegations were contradictory to facts, the report pulls up Prabhakar for refusing to disclose the name of the person he has charged with trying to bribe him.

Chandrachud has remarked: 8220;This is indeed an easy exercise. Make any unfounded allegations you like against teammates, officials and others and then try to get away with it by saying the names of the culprits cannot be disclosed because there is danger to life or the fear of litigation.8221; The report reproduces the statements made by Prabhakar, Indian skipper Sachin Tendulkar, his predecessor Mohammed Azharuddin, Ajay Jadeja, wicket-keeper Nayan Mongia and Test discard Sanjay Manjrekar besides Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev.

Accounts of former managers Ajit Wadekar, DV Subba Rao, Sandip Patil and Sunil Dev have also been quoted by him in arriving at his conclusion. The first part of the findings, which reject Prabhakar8217;s charges outright, are substantiated with statements by his former teammates. Terming Prabhakar8217;s charge as concocted8217; that Mohammed Azharuddin and Aamir Sohail had once returned after toss in Sharjah claiming the other had won it, the report castigates the ex-all rounder saying 8220;the allegation8230; deserves no further attention except that the allegation shows that Manoj has no regard for truth whatsoever.8217;

8220;It is purile for seasoned campaigners like Aamir Sohail and Azhar to proclaim within the presence of a couple of commentators that the other had won the toss. In his zeal for involving Azhar, Manoj overlooked that managers, coaches and members of the two teams would not have been silent spectators to such absurd claim made by their respective captains.8221;

Justice Chandrachud has held that there 8220;is undoubtedly large-scale betting on cricket,8221; but says that was a law and order problem.

8220;Betting, like drinking, is a common human weakness8230; One cannot, therefore, rule out the possibility that some Indian players may be laying the flutter of a bet. But it is insufficient to conclude they lay bets for losing a match. Such a charge lacks substance and is unjustified.8221;

In his deposition, Prabhakar has refused to reveal any names saying he feared for his life. 8220;I have no evidence to prove my statements. It will be my word against theirs.8221;

While all the top players and former managers examined, categorically deny any incident of match-fixing or betting by players, Sandip Patil team coach for just over six months from March 8217;96 has observed that he had seen one leading player hold prolonged conversations over a mobile phone during the England tour last year.

He has also testified that he suspected a player and another person closely connected with him of leaking important information to the press. 8220;I was also unable to understand why Ali Irani previous team physio was allowed to attend team meetings on the eve of the match or at any time.8221;