While talking about the current fixing controversy, Sourav Ganguly remembers the loss to Zimbabwe in 1999 and the Colombo ODI versus Sri Lanka in 1997
While talking about the current fixing controversy, Sourav Ganguly remembers the loss to Zimbabwe in 1999 and the Colombou00a0ODI versus Sri Lanka in 1997. No, he didn't smell a rat, but sure did find the defeats unbelievable
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| On the ropes: Javagal Srinath fields on the boundary in the World Cup game against Zimbabwe at Leicester in 1999. Srinath along with Sourav Ganguly and fellow paceman Venkatesh Prasad were livid in the dressing room after the loss. PIC/GETTY IMAGES |
For those wanting to know if any of India's top cricketers have been approached by a bookie, former captain Sourav Ganguly has the answer: No "I was never approached by anyone in my career," said Ganguly. "Since no one called me, I can't say anything about this bookie issue. I think they (bookies) know who to approach."
Ganguly said that he even asked his teammates if they were approached during his captaincy years. "I asked Rahul (Dravid), Sachin (Tendulkar) and Anil (Kumble) if they received any call and they said they were never contacted. We discussed this matter. I think bookies judge a cricketer's character before making an approach."
About the current controversy, Ganguly said: "It's difficult to say anything because investigations are not over. I read a lot of things, but only after the investigation is complete we can say what this is all about."
Ganguly was captain of India during Cronjegate. "The BCCI banned a few cricketers, but I can't believe that (fixing) could have happened.
"Before I became captain, there were two games which I can't believe we lost ufffd in 1997 at the Premadasa Stadium ufffd against Sri Lanka. Our victory target was 303, but we ended up with 300 for seven. I still can't believe how we lost. I expressed my displeasure in the dressing room, but I never suspected anyone," he said.
The other match whose result surprised Ganguly was the loss to Zimbabwe at Leicester in the 1999 World Cup.
"We needed three runs to win with three wickets in hand. But we lost! I remember having a small argument with the coach (Anshuman Gaekwad).
"Again, I did not find anything suspicious, but was angry. Gaekwad admitted that there was an incident in the dressing room. "Not only Sourav, but Venkatesh Prasad and Javagal Srinath were very upset too," he said.
"It was silly to lose a few matches. But it is difficult to say anything as to what happened at that time," said Ganguly.
