Superstars Who Faced Match Fixing Claims: People call cricket a gentleman’s game. The sport in its early years signified as much. Cricketers for most of their playing days also kept up the game’s spirit. Cricket remained clean and clear up until the 70s and 80s. The term ‘match fixing’ reared its ugly head in the late 90s. Cricket suffered a huge jolt!
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It broke the fans’ trust:
Cricketing fans who regarded cricketers as heroes were the biggest casualties. They started to give up on the game altogether. The game since then has never been the same and every match or action that deviates ever so slightly is seen with suspicion even in this day and age.
Cricket fans start voicing their qualms on how this might be a game that’s already scripted. They question the intent of players right away. There were many superstars who came under the scanner then and even now a couple of cult heroes had to face the music.
We look at Superstars Who Faced Match Fixing Claims:
#5 Kapil Dev
The world wasn’t ready to hear the name of its dearest icon in such a scandal. Kapil Dev walked on a tightrope amidst the speculations that started doing the rounds. Dev vehemently denied all charges and broke down on national television. All the charges against him were dropped and Dev walked away without any sanctions.
#4 Ajay Jadeja
He was the original poster boy of Indian cricket in the 90s. Ajay Jadeja was calmness personified. He was slated for big things with Jadeja primed to be the Indian captain. Jadeja in fact led the side on many occasions. He was a terrific fielder, a part-time medium pacer, and a street-smart batter. Jadeja was a complete package. But match-fixing allegations ruined his career forever. The 5-year suspension that was handed to him saw the end of Jadeja as an Indian player.
#3 Mohammad Azharuddin
It brought an entire nation to a standstill when his name appeared in the match-fixing saga. Mohammad Azharuddin was one of India’s finest-ever cricketers. He remains the only Indian captain to lead the side in 3 ODI World Cups. Azhar was one of the biggest names in the scandal that broke out in 2000. The BCCI banned him for life. Azhar contested the claim in the high court and was subsequently declared innocent in 2009.
#2 Hansie Cronje
The former South African captain surrendered to his conscience. Hansie Cronje’s confessions shook world cricket. After an initial investigation that cleared Cronje of any fixing claims, the man admitted to fixing games. His eyes had tears in them. The world witnessed the fall from grace of a leader that many had respect for. Cronje though expired in a controversial air crash soon after.
#1 MS Dhoni
He was questioned but not for national duties. It was for the first time in Indian cricket history. MS Dhoni was in the spotlight when the principal consultant of his side, the Chennai Super Kings was found guilty of fixing. The team’s official used to share team and match information ahead of the toss.
It was during the business end of IPL 2013 that these allegations surfaced. The media grilled MS Dhoni ahead of India’s Champions Trophy visit. Dhoni smiled and remained mum during the entire press conference. He came back leading India to victory in CT 2013 and completed his ICC trophy cabinet. Dhoni once again won both on and off the field!
