What Did Rashid Latif mean when he said - Sachin knows everything?

[DeadlyVenom]

I was doing some reading into the Qayum inquiry and other match fixing scandals ( slow day at work) and I came across a very interesting interview with Rashid Latif that talked about match fixing.

The last 3 questions I found quite interesting

The problem is that the CBI is finding it difficult to get concrete evidence to back claims of match-fixing... How can that be? It should then change its name if it finds itself unable to get anywhere. How can it not get proof, that's impossible to conceive! They should bring the suspected players to the police station and grill them. The truth will come tumbling out like what happens in Indian movies.... Which Indian cricketer do you think should be questioned? The hero in your country. Sachin. Sachin Tendulkar...! Yes, absolutely. He knows everything.

Anybody know what he meant? Is there more background to this that I am missing?

I was only a youngster back then so don't know the ins and outs.
Link : http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?209645

[mastermind_quad]

Lolz another thread where likes of Namak_Halal can carry on ...Haha ....

[DeadlyVenom]

Originally Posted by mastermind_quad Lolz another thread where Namak_Halal can carry on ...Haha ....

Stop trying to derail the thread. NH can post when and where he wants.

Do you have an answer to my questions in the OP?

[mastermind_quad]

Originally Posted by DeadlyVenom Stop trying to derail the thread. NH can post when and where he wants. Do you have an answer to my questions in the OP?

Lolz ..Obviously ....I am not stopping anybody....come on....

And when Mr Latif didn't gave the detail how come anybody else know about this....you should ask to Mr Latif first ...

[Zamee]

How dare he ??

[Itachi]

He meant, tendu knew everything about what was going on. Isn't it obvious?

[Namak_Halaal]

I think what Rashid Latif means is that Tendulkar is not as innocent as he makes out to be. By this I do not mean Tendulkar was fixing games, but rather he knew that fixing was going on in team India and played dumb to the world – pretending he didn’t know a thing.

Remember it was Tendulkar who claimed he was not thinking about the 100th 100, then as soon as he scores his 100, he response to the media was "A weight off my shoulders". Clearly he was lying.

Some go far as saying Tendulkar is played by the BCCI for their benefit, I disagree; I think it’s Tendulkar who is playing the BCCI and taking them – and the rest of the cricketing world - for a ride.

There’s an old saying – "The quiet ones are the worst ones"

[IgnitedMind]

It means Tendulkar knows everything....He is all Wise(Sachin 14:13/2)..That is why we call him God.

[cricketworm]

Not only SRT, probably most of the team members in the team knew that Azhar was in the fixing. Just like Cronje was encouraging his team-mates to do the same.

[cricketworm]

Originally Posted by navroks123 it means tendulkar knows everything....he is all wise(sachin 14:13/2)..that is why we call him god.

qotw!

[mastermind_quad]

What "Sachin 14:13/2" means ??

[cricketworm]

Originally Posted by mastermind_quad What "Sachin 14:13/2" means ??

It's quote from the 'SachBible'. Mentioned by St. Latif: "He knows everything".

[Black Zero]

Rashid Latif got a bad habit of accusing!

[mastermind_quad]

Originally Posted by cricketworm It's quote from the 'SachBible'. Mentioned by St. Latif: "He knows everything".

Oh! ...haha..

[DeadlyVenom]

Originally Posted by Namak_Halaal I think what Rashid Latif means is that Tendulkar is not as innocent as he makes out to be. By this I do not mean Tendulkar was fixing games, but rather he knew that fixing was going on in team India and played dumb to the world – pretending he didn’t know a thing. Remember it was Tendulkar who claimed he was not thinking about the 100th 100, then as soon as he scores his 100, he response to the media was "A weight off my shoulders". Clearly he was lying. Some go far as saying Tendulkar is played by the BCCI for their benefit, I disagree; I think it’s Tendulkar who is playing the BCCI and taking them – and the rest of the cricketing world - for a ride. There’s an old saying – "The quiet ones are the worst ones"

Theres an interview with Sachin saying those years were the worst of his life.
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/m.../1/126123.html

Perhaps he did know and kept quiet, hence why his game was affected too?

If thats the case then hes just as much of a criminal as the fixers themselves.

[Itachi]

Originally Posted by DeadlyVenom Theres an interview with Sachin saying those years were the worst of his life. http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/m.../1/126123.html Perhaps he did know and kept quiet, hence why his game was affected too? If thats the case then hes just as much of a criminal as the fixers themselves.

you are trying to manipulate it as much to suit your needs. But the meaning is clearly out there.... When your team mates does fixing, suspicion will be on you too. If you fail, fingers will be pointed.... Ask the pakistani cricketers how they felt after the trio saga. Ask umer gul how he felt when he bowled a no ball after that scandal....

human psychology isn't a very difficult subject.

[IgnitedMind]

Originally Posted by DeadlyVenom Theres an interview with Sachin saying those years were the worst of his life. http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/m.../1/126123.html Perhaps he did know and kept quiet, hence why his game was affected too? If thats the case then hes just as much of a criminal as the fixers themselves.

Way to twist the conditions at what sachin is referring to..

Sachin was saying that was worst phase because people were looking at you with suspisicion in the article..and they had to work hard to gain confidence again..he was talking about after match fixing scandal broke

You somehow deciphered it to sachin saying that worst phase because he was hiding something pre match fixing scandal and he is a criminal..nice

[cricketjoshila]

OFC Sachin knows everything.He is GOD.

[DeadlyVenom]

Originally Posted by Itachi you are trying to manipulate it as much to suit your needs. But the meaning is clearly out there.... When your team mates does fixing, suspicion will be on you too. If you fail, fingers will be pointed.... Ask the pakistani cricketers how they felt after the trio saga. Ask umer gul how he felt when he bowled a no ball after that scandal.... human psychology isn't a very difficult subject.

Originally Posted by navroks123 Way to twist the conditions at what sachin is referring to.. Sachin was saying that was worst phase because people were looking at you with suspisicion in the article..and they had to work hard to gain confidence again..he was talking about after match fixing scandal broke You somehow deciphered it to sachin saying that worst phase because he was hiding something pre match fixing scandal and he is a criminal..nice

No. I said that could be the case.

I wouldnt accuse anybody of being a fixer without proof BUT Rashid seems quite convinced Sachin was involved in something.

Is Rashids word gospel. No of course not but he did seem convinced.

[jusarrived]

agreed , the whole Pak team should have been jailed and banned for life ..not just the trio.

[cricketjoshila]

The usual suspects again trying to wind up people.If anyone has proof post it.Else these are nothing but sensless baseless useless unworthy comments,which reek of sour grapes.

btw didnt the Justice Qayyum report indicated that almost the entire Pak team of that time was involved in fixing but were not banned because Pakistan didnt have the bench strength.May be Rashid should have thought about them.

[Itachi]

Originally Posted by navroks123 Way to twist the conditions at what sachin is referring to.. Sachin was saying that was worst phase because people were looking at you with suspisicion in the article..and they had to work hard to gain confidence again..he was talking about after match fixing scandal broke You somehow deciphered it to sachin saying that worst phase because he was hiding something pre match fixing scandal and he is a criminal..nice

idle mind is devils workshop....

[Itachi]

Originally Posted by DeadlyVenom No. I said that could be the case. I wouldnt accuse anybody of being a fixer without proof BUT Rashid seems quite convinced Sachin was involved in something. Is Rashids word gospel. No of course not but he did seem convinced.

hitler was pretty much convinced that aryans were superior race.

[Namak_Halaal]

Originally Posted by DeadlyVenom Theres an interview with Sachin saying those years were the worst of his life. http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/m.../1/126123.html Perhaps he did know and kept quiet, hence why his game was affected too? If thats the case then hes just as much of a criminal as the fixers themselves.

100% agree with you bro.

There is a reason why there was no criminal trial after the Indian Captain and his posse were caught match fixing. A criminal trial would most probably have lead to Tendulkar taking the witness stand.

His testimony would mean three things:

1 – Evidence supporting chronic levels of corruption in Indian Cricket.
2 – Ratting on his team mates.
3 – Bestowing shame on India (and himself).

It is plausible to suggest BCCI protected their Golden Boy, meanwhile Tendulkar concealed evidence of corruption – which is a crime (and immoral).

If the above was on my mind it would affect my mindset thus performance.

Guilty conscious perhaps?

[cricketjoshila]

NH do you have proof to any of the things you claimed regarding Tendulkar?If not then it just means you are rattling on the anti India rhetoric.

[DeadlyVenom]

Originally Posted by Namak_Halaal 100% agree with you bro. There is a reason why there was no criminal trial after the Indian Captain and his posse were caught match fixing. A criminal trial would most probably have lead to Tendulkar taking the witness stand. His testimony would mean three things: 1 – Evidence supporting chronic levels of corruption in Indian Cricket. 2 – Ratting on his team mates. 3 – Bestowing shame on India (and himself). It is plausible to suggest BCCI protected their Golden Boy, meanwhile Tendulkar concealed evidence of corruption – which is a crime (and immoral). If the above was on my mind it would affect my mindset thus performance. Guilty conscious perhaps?

It is definitley plausible.

Also - there seem to be rumours around that time of Mumbai bookies attending Sachins wedding.

Note - these are just rumours BUT one of the alleged attendees was responsible for recruiting Cronje and Azharudin.

[PakPrince]

when tendulkar gets caught then come up with this rubbish!
if we came to mudslinging then every pakistani cricketer would be fixer

[Namak_Halaal]

Originally Posted by cricketjoshila NH do you have proof to any of the things you claimed regarding Tendulkar?If not then it just means you are rattling on the anti India rhetoric.

Why was there no criminal trial after MA and his entourage were caught for match fixing?

If there was a criminal trial would BCCI 'allow' Tendulkar to bear witness?

Why is the BCCI not investigated? Is it because BCCI is funded by a 'Private Consortium'?

Explain how BCCI can afford to 'give' Crore Rupees to Indian players of the past?

Where is this money coming from? Criminal organisations - Black Money.

Black money washed into White money through the IPL.

Did you know current Anti-Corruption Laws in india only apply to the Public/State sector? BCCI is private.

BCCI can get away with corruption scott free and has been doing so for the past 15 years.

There's a reason why the Lokpal Bill has flopped in the Indian Parliament.

[cricketjoshila]

'

? Why was there no criminal trial after MA and his entourage were caught for match fixing? If there was a criminal trial would BCCI 'allow' Tendulkar to bear witness? Why is the BCCI not investigated? Is it because BCCI is funded by a 'Private Consortium

Players were banned by BCCI and the case is on regarding MA in high court.

The court will decide who they will ask to appear not you.

Do you have the CBI report?Do you know who was investigated and who not?Why is it anyones concernn who sponsors BCCI?Wy because they can buy and sell 100s of PCB and have financial power to have its way in ICC?Jealousy?I understand the frustration.

Explain how BCCI can afford to 'give' Crore Rupees to Indian players of the past?

Because BCCI unlike the bankrupt PCB earns millions of dollars and is worth $529 million on the last count.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/co...ry/533053.html

read before you talk.

Where is this money coming from? Criminal organisations - Black Money. Black money washed into White money through the IPL.

IPL team owners are some of the richest and most well known persons in the world.So again what you speak of just shows your frustration.

Did you know current Anti-Corruption Laws in india only apply to the Public/State sector? BCCI is private.

What corruption has BCCI done?Any proof?

BCCI can get away with corruption scott free and has been doing so for the past 15 years. There's a reason why the Lokpal Bill has flopped in the Indian Parliament.

Indian Parliament and laws are no concern of a British citizen of Pakistani origin.

I am still waiting for the proof,or should i assume you have none and were merely satisfying your anti Indian ego.

[Namak_Halaal]

Originally Posted by cricketjoshila Indian Parliament and laws are no concern of a British citizen of Pakistani origin. I am still waiting for the proof,or should i assume you have none and were merely satisfying your anti Indian ego.

I smell fear.

Bold line just killed your response.

You have squat proof of the contrary either.

If you want to believe Tendulkar had no idea about corruption in the Indian team - which he was playing for 11 years - then you deserve a Gold medal.

PS: You should read the questions before answering.

[doctordamor]

Originally Posted by cricketworm Not only SRT, probably most of the team members in the team knew that Azhar was in the fixing. Just like Cronje was encouraging his team-mates to do the same.

a very sensible post i appreciate ur courage sir, its inconciveable for me that wasim waqar inzi didn't atleast know abt match fixing these guys were key players u cant fix match without them knowing same way azhar jadeja or any other team others knew.

This is not to say they themselves fixed its just they knew and to say otherwise would be a lie.

[cricketjoshila]

Originally Posted by Namak_Halaal I smell fear. Bold line just killed your response. You have squat proof of the contrary either. If you want to believe Tendulkar had no idea about corruption in the Indian team - which he was playing for 11 years - then you deserve a Gold medal. PS: You should read the questions before answering.

I have answered the questions you posted.

And fear whom?An anonymous poster on internet?

If you have proof that Tendulkar knew everything please post some evidence.

Now please post some evidence regarding:

1.How BCCI is funded by a private consortium?

2.How BCCI which earns millions of dollars in profit($40million in 2010-11) and has assests worth $529million is doing anything illegal to give its former players crores.

3.Woh is washing their black money into white in IPL?Proof.

4.Tendulkar knew/was involved in Match fixing.

And yes you are no one to question how Indian laws are framed and how Indian parliament functions,simply none of your concerns.Stick to the point you raised about Tendulkar and Cricket and BCCI,unless you want to drift as you seem to have no evidence.

[cricketworm]

Originally Posted by doctordamor a very sensible post i appreciate ur courage sir, its inconciveable for me that wasim waqar inzi didn't atleast know abt match fixing these guys were key players u cant fix match without them knowing same way azhar jadeja or any other team others knew. This is not to say they themselves fixed its just they knew and to say otherwise would be a lie.

Sachin, Dravid, Kumble, Ganguli, Prasad and Srinath ... these are the guys, who kept integrity in the team in tough times! SRT tried as a captain but it was Ganguli, who took over post Azhar! And made team from the ashes.

Anyway, any Indian international or famous domestic player would be the biggest idiot for even thinking of doing any kind of fixing, seeing the amount of money they make nowadays.

[Pakistaniboy]

The Answer to the OP is.

Rashid Latif has a bad habit of accusing players without proof.

May it be Indian players, Pakistani, Australian, Sri Lankan Etc.

He is a Sarfraz Nawaz V2.

Motormouth.

[Pakistaniboy]

He was a great cricketer though, so kids please dont get it wrong with my post.

Thank You.

[leatherface58]

Originally Posted by cricketworm It's quote from the 'SachBible'. Mentioned by St. Latif: "He knows everything".

ROFLMAO

Sent from my MT11i using Tapatalk 2

[Sherlock]

Maybe it was something as innocent as Sachin has played through the days of Sharjah, Sahara etc and that's when major players were fixing. Maybe he knew the players involved.

[Namak_Halaal]

Originally Posted by cricketjoshila I have answered the questions you posted.

No you have not. You have waffled with your insecurity. Bankrupt PCB? Pakistani born in UK? Relvance? Is that the best you can do?

Originally Posted by cricketjoshila And fear whom?An anonymous poster on internet?

Fear the truth.

Originally Posted by cricketjoshila If you have proof that Tendulkar knew everything please post some evidence.

So you think Tendulkar was ignorant of the corruption in the Indian team?

Originally Posted by cricketjoshila Now please post some evidence regarding: 1.How BCCI is funded by a private consortium?

Grab your Kleenex.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), headquartered at Mumbai, India, is the national governing body for all cricket in India. The board was formed in December 1928 as BCCI replaced Calcutta Cricket Club. BCCI is a society, registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act. It often uses government-owned stadiums across the country at a nominal annual rent.[citation needed] It is a "private club consortium". To become a member of a state-level association, one needs to be introduced by another member and also pay an annual fee. The state-level clubs select their representatives (secretaries) who in turn select the BCCI officials.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Board_o...icket_in_India

Originally Posted by cricketjoshila 2.How BCCI which earns millions of dollars in profit($40million in 2010-11) and has assests worth $529million is doing anything illegal to give its former players crores. 3.Woh is washing their black money into white in IPL?Proof. 4.Tendulkar knew/was involved in Match fixing. And yes you are no one to question how Indian laws are framed and how Indian parliament functions,simply none of your concerns.Stick to the point you raised about Tendulkar and Cricket and BCCI,unless you want to drift as you seem to have no evidence.

Waffle.

I am sticking to the point of Tendulkar, I asked you if you think Tendulkar was ignorant of the corruption in Indian cricket while he was playing for 11 years. You didn’t answer - what are you scared of? Instead are scraping the bottom of the barrel by asking for proof?

Prove to me the money earned by the BCCI is through legal means and is 100% legit.

Prove to me Tendulkar was ignorant of corruption in the Indian team.

You have ZERO proof.

India is the most corrupt country in the world.

The IPL was specifically created to launder corrupt money.

How is Lalit Modi doing these days?

I can cite many examples (evidence) of corruption in Indian Cricket.

Your government choked at an anti-corruption bill because the entire 'establishment' is in on it.

You keep pretending Indian Cricket is 100% clean.

[Pakistaniboy]

Indian Cricket 100 % Clean?!

BS

Completely BS.

Pakistan Cricket is corrupt and so is Indian Cricket.

Sri Lankan Cricket is Corrput.

And So Is The ECB, South African Cricket Board, The Aussies.

If you lead a big institution or any cricket board then you are most certainly Corrupt.

Corruption is everywhere in the world

[Namak_Halaal]

Originally Posted by Pakistaniboy Indian Cricket 100 % Clean?! BS Completely BS. Pakistan Cricket is corrupt and so is Indian Cricket. Sri Lankan Cricket is Corrput. And So Is The ECB, South African Cricket Board, The Aussies. If you lead a big institution or any cricket board then you are most certainly Corrupt. Corruption is everywhere in the world

The difference is Indians deny Indian Cricket is corrupt, from domestic Umpires to the BCCI, Indian cricket is riddled with corruption.

[LegCutter]

Originally Posted by Pakistaniboy Indian Cricket 100 % Clean?! BS Completely BS. Pakistan Cricket is corrupt and so is Indian Cricket. Sri Lankan Cricket is Corrput. And So Is The ECB, South African Cricket Board, The Aussies. If you lead a big institution or any cricket board then you are most certainly Corrupt. Corruption is everywhere in the world

And the point of your outburst is....?

Kind of reminds me how Ijaz Butt started pointing fingers at the English team after Amir and co were caught in fixing.

[Pakistaniboy]

Originally Posted by LegCutter And the point of your outburst is....? Kind of reminds me how Ijaz Butt started pointing fingers at the English team after Amir and co were caught in fixing.

Its not an outburst my friend.

Corruption is everywhere.

Im not finding any flaws in other teams/cricket boards.

[Bullet Drive]

How about we all tweet Rashid and ask him..

[DeadlyVenom]

Originally Posted by Bullet Drive How about we all tweet Rashid and ask him..

If you have a twitter please do bro.

[srh]

I am pretty sure Tendulkar knew that some of his teammates were involved in match fixing. May be those teammates were caught by anonymous tip from Tendulkar? Same is the case with Afridi as he has been presumed giving tips about Butt and co. We will know the truth when these guys retired and wrote a book.

[leatherface58]

Originally Posted by srh I am pretty sure Tendulkar knew that some of his teammates were involved in match fixing. May be those teammates were caught by anonymous tip from Tendulkar? Same is the case with Afridi as he has been presumed giving tips about Butt and co. We will know the truth when these guys retired and wrote a book.

i doubt will write a book. he fiercely guards his privacy. thats also the main reason he hasnt been in trouble yet. no controversy about his personal life yet.

[Monsee]

Anyone remembers Kapil's crocodile tears...what do you think prompted them?

There was talk all over the cricketing circles that Kapil was involved and so were a few others too...when Kapil feared he would be exposed, he did the crying act and BCCI just swept the whole thing under the carpet because they were also worried about a few other big players being exposed, regarding their part in it all!

One name that was floated in the circles was Sachin too...now ladies and gents and Indian blind sachinists, you can add two plus too

[cricketworm]

Yehi baki reh gaya tha welcome!

Only W63 missing now.

[leatherface58]

Originally Posted by cricketworm Yehi baki reh gaya tha welcome! Only W63 missing now.

dude read the "SachBible". He knows everything. anybody who talks against Him will be smited but not before being forced to watch a compilation of misbah's slowest test innings on a loop 24 hrs per day.

[cricketworm]

Originally Posted by leatherface58 dude read the "SachBible". He knows everything. anybody who talks against Him will be smited but not before being forced to watch a compilation of misbah's slowest test innings on a loop 24 hrs per day.

haha some people still believe he is still in Mohali and tuk-tuking.

[Looney]

Hate that , if you are going to talk about an issue as serious as this then say everything or don`t say anything at all

[LethalSami]

Well only Latif can tell us what he really means....

whether he thinks Sachin was complacent or a participant??? only he can answer

btw this thread has potential

[oyei]

some of the Indian man made idol worshiper would obviously have difficulty understanding what Latif has said, He did not accuse so called God of cricket being corrupt, all Latif has said that the God of cricket should be questioned and he knows everything. Obviously at that time, it was not just about spot fixing, the whole match were being fixed, so Azhar alone could have not fixed the game, he had to get other players involved, which he did, that does not mean Sachin was involved, but to believe that the God of cricket had no clue what was going on, well only a genius would deny this.

[khalil1986]

Wow some Pakistani posters really are pathetic, it's the usual resident trolls at it again.

[mastermind_quad]

Explain how BCCI can afford to 'give' Crore Rupees to Indian players of the past? Where is this money coming from? Criminal organisations - Black Money.

Forget about other TV/team sponsorship/internet,etc deals....Only IPL television rights deals is about 82000 Crore INR i.e., more then 1 billion.

http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/bus...cr_390334.html
http://www.espncricinfo.com/ipl/cont...ry/330881.html

I thinks BCCI makes lots of money ....that's not the big amount they distributed.

One more thing I want to add here....In India..

There is pension system for cricket players/ex players/umpires/etc and even there widows gets the pension.

[Random Aussie]

The only people with less credibility on corruption allegations than ex Pakistan players are Indian bookies. Put up some proof or shut up.

[trogger]

^indeed^

latif may have started off with noble intentions many years ago but the bloke seems to also love the limelight and just throwing big names in with no proof, he even managed to try and connect steve waugh of all people to match fixing, waugh had the right response telling him *"Don't you ever put that **** on your web site again or I'll wrap this f---ing bat around your head."


*direct quote from waugh's autobiography.

[doctordamor]

Originally Posted by cricketworm Sachin, Dravid, Kumble, Ganguli, Prasad and Srinath ... these are the guys, who kept integrity in the team in tough times! SRT tried as a captain but it was Ganguli, who took over post Azhar! And made team from the ashes. Anyway, any Indian international or famous domestic player would be the biggest idiot for even thinking of doing any kind of fixing, seeing the amount of money they make nowadays.

Ur tlking now that they are rich back in 90's it wasn't so after posting sensible post nationalism again took over (curse of subcontinent) point is all these guys knew whether they did themselves or not is debatable what is not debatable is they all knew very well and anyone who say they didnt know remains a liar.

[freelance_cricketer]

Given the number of matches India has lost especially in 90s with Tendulkar outperforming rest of the 21 dudes, he must be aware that he's been playing along with some really corrupt people.



Anyway being a God, he's bound to know everything.

[ahamedirshad123]

short history of the BCCI’s rise to riches

http://www.openthemagazine.com/artic...-sold-in-india

1992 ~ Doordarshan demands Rs 5 lakh from the BCCI to telecast cricket matches played on Indian soil 2012 ~ Star Group pays the BCCI Rs 3,851 crore for rights to telecast cricket matches on Indian soil from 2012 to 2018. This breaks down into a fee of Rs 32 crore per match between 2012 and 2014, going up to Rs 40 crore per match between 2014 and 2018

In under 20 years, cricket has become one of India’s most lucrative businesses. This dramatic transformation is recorded here in the voices of the men who played starring roles in either promoting the cause or standing in its way—Jagmohan Dalmiya (at various points BCCI Secretary, ICC President, BCCI President, CAB President); IS Bindra (BCCI President, Punjab Cricket Association President, ICC Advisor); Mark Mascarenhas (Head of WorldTel); Ratikanta Basu (Director General of Doordarshan); Lalit Modi (Head of BCCI Marketing Committee, Chairman of IPL); N Srinivasan (Head of BCCI Marketing Committee, BCCI Secretary, BCCI President); Uday Shankar (CEO, Star Group, India) and Dr Ali Bacher (President, United Cricket Board of South Africa; Chairman, ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 Organizing Committee). This oral history is constructed by piecing together excerpts from interviews these men have granted me over the years and from primary documents and letters written by them

INDERJIT SINGH BINDRA

President, Punjab Cricket Association (2003-04):

“Prior to 1993, Doordarshan had a monopoly on the telecast of cricket matches in India. For each live telecast, DD demanded sizeable money from the BCCI to meet [the] costs of production. The scenario changed in 1993 when the Board sold television rights for the India-England series to Trans World International (TWI). Doordarshan, in turn, was forced to pay TWI $1 million for the right to telecast the matches in India. This agreement, the first of its kind in the Board’s history, made it richer by $600,000. It allowed the BCCI to tide over the severe financial crisis plaguing Indian cricket between 1987 and 1992.”

However, the sale of telecast rights to TWI did not mark the end of Doordarshan’s monopoly over the telecast of Indian cricket and the BCCI soon found itself embroiled in a bitter controversy with DD over telecast rights.

JAGMOHAN DALMIYA

(in interviews conducted when he was BCCI President (2001-04) and CAB President, 2004-05 and again 2009-)

“Our struggle with DD began on 15 March 1993 when I, as president of the Cricket Association of Bengal, wrote a letter to the director-general of DD informing him of the six-nation (eventually five-nation, with the withdrawal of Pakistan) international cricket tournament that was to be held in November 1993 as part of our diamond jubilee celebrations.”

“Our letter asked DD to send a detailed offer for any of the two alternatives: one, that DD would create the host broadcaster signal and also undertake live telecast of all matches in the tournament; or two, any other party may create the host broadcaster signal and DD would only purchase the rights to telecast the matches in India. We emphasised that in either case the foreign television rights would be retained by the Association. It also asked DD to specify the royalty it was willing to pay for the telecast rights.”

“On 18 March 1993, the controller of programmes (sports), DD, asked CAB to send in writing the amount it expected as fee for exclusive telecast rights within India. On 19 March, CAB informed DD it was willing to offer DD exclusive rights for India and was agreeable to DD generating its own ‘host broadcaster signal’ for $800,000. CAB, however, declared it would reserve the right to sell the worldwide telecast rights of the Hero Cup (that is, telecast rights excluding India) to foreign broadcasters.”

“On 31 March 1993, DD sent its bid as ‘host broadcaster’ in India for a sum of Rs 1 crore. CAB replied on 12 May stating it had decided to sell/allot worldwide TV rights to one party only and asked if DD was interested. A couple of days later, DD faxed a letter to CAB stating it was committed to its bid of Rs 1 crore for exclusive telecast rights for India alone. It also suggested that the speculation over Pakistan’s participation in the tournament, which might affect viewership and commercial accruals, might force DD to rethink its bid.”

“With DD turning a deaf ear, CAB, on 14 June 1993, entered into an agreement with TWI to telecast the Hero Cup. In return, CAB was to receive $550,000 as a guaranteed sum. It was also specified that if TWI received any sum in excess of the guaranteed sum, it would be split in a 70:30 ratio in favour of CAB. On 18 June 1993, DD made an announcement in the media that it had decided not to telecast the matches …and was determined not to enter into any negotiations with a foreign company to obtain television rights for a tournament being played in India. Soon after the announcement, we wrote to DD to verify the authenticity of the news report. The letter went unanswered.”

“On 27 October, DD reiterated its decision to not purchase signals from TWI because it was a foreign organisation. This was puzzling because DD had purchased telecast rights from TWI earlier during the India-England series in January 1993. On 29 October, we once again requested DD to reconsider its position, also conceding, purely in deference to DD’s apparent sensitivity to taking signals from TWI, that CAB was happy to allow DD to produce its own video for the matches, which DD would directly purchase from CAB, at a mutually agreed price. The very next day DD sent a message stating it would not pay any access fee to CAB to telecast the matches. Rather, for DD to telecast the matches live, CAB would have to pay technical charges/production fee at Rs 500,000 per match. CAB would also have to give DD exclusive rights for the signals generated and the parties interested in taking signals would have to negotiate directly with DD.”

“Following up on DD’s letter, CAB, on 4 November, asked for a series of clarifications. Since DD had asked for production fees for the telecast of matches, it was presumed that all revenue generated from advertisements would belong to CAB and that it would have the right to charge access fees from parties abroad. On 5 November, DD rejected these terms.”

With the dispute turning ugly, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry stepped in on 5 November and announced that, ‘According to law, no agency other than that belonging to or appointed by the Government of India has a right to telecast any event live by uplinking signals from Indian soil.’ The law being relied upon was the Indian Telegraph Act of 1885.

JAGMOHAN DALMIYA

(from the same set of interviews)

“With no other option, CAB, on 8 November, filed a writ petition in the Calcutta High Court praying that the respondents (the Government of India) should be directed to provide telecast and broadcast rights of all matches as well as make arrangements for the telecast and broadcast of matches by TWI. After hearing the petition, the High Court passed an interim order instructing the Government not to thwart existing arrangements between CAB and TWI.”

“…the film facilities officer of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry informed the Customs department in New Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata airports that since TWI had not obtained necessary clearances from the Government to cover the tournament, it should not be permitted to remove exposed film outside India till the films had been cleared by government officials. The Customs officials, in fact, went ahead and confiscated all equipment belonging to TWI, causing us huge problems during the tournament.”

This alarmed some of the participating teams, evident from a letter written by Ali Bacher of the United Cricket Board of South Africa.

ALI BACHER

(12 November 1993)

‘The United Cricket Board of South Africa wishes to place on record its extreme disappointment that the Cricket Association of Bengal is unable to ensure that Sunday’s historic cricket match between South Africa and West Indies in Bombay [14 November 1993] will not be televised by TWI and therefore not seen by the people of South Africa.’

(I have a copy of the letter)

JAGMOHAN DALMIYA

(same set of interviews)

“On 14 November, the high court issued another directive, instructing the Customs authorities to release TWI equipment. The [order] wasn’t complied with. TWI, undeterred by Mumbai Customs’ continued intransigence over the seized equipment, and having paid us, recorded the West Indies-South Africa match with locally hired equipment.”

“With the Customs authorities refusing to abide by the orders of the Calcutta High Court, we were compelled to file a writ petition (No. 836) in the Supreme Court on 15 November. In a landmark judgment, the court directed that TWI could generate its own signals by focusing their cameras on the ground where the matches were being played. It also ordered the Customs authorities to release the confiscated equipment forthwith. Never before in the history of independent India had a Supreme Court division bench sat in judgment at 11.30 pm on a government holiday.”

The order was passed by Justices JS Verma and PB Sawant. The deadlock, however, persisted even after the Supreme Court order. In fact, a fresh issue arose over the first choice of camera positions at the venues. It had resonance in the international broadcast arena with Mark Mascarenhas, Head of WorldTel and who had bought the telecast rights for the 1996 World Cup, expressing serious disappointment.

MARK MASCARENHAS

(in a letter faxed to the BCCI, 16 November 1993)

‘It was a premise of our agreement regarding the World Cup that the event will be produced by WorldTel, with internationally recognised television production, and the event will be offered to broadcasters on this basis. Based on the TWI situation, I have already received a letter from the Director of Sports Programming at the SABC in South Africa advising that the circumstances lead him to recommend that his organization withdraws from negotiations for the World Cup. Other TV networks from around the world have called me this morning expressing similar sentiments. In my opinion irreversible damage has already been done. We look to the Board to take all steps necessary to rectify the situation before it jeopardizes the 1996 World Cup and the investments of all involved, and does lasting harm to India as a sponsor of major sporting events.’ (I have a copy of the letter)

Earlier that year, Mascarenhas had written a letter to the joint organising committee of the World Cup, which said, ‘We are interested in the worldwide television rights for the 1996 World Cup and would like to submit the following proposal for your consideration: US$9.5 million minimum guarantee for exclusive worldwide television rights to the competition, with a 75-25 split in favour of the World Cup committee on additional revenues. Or USD 10.5 million for the outright purchase of the exclusive worldwide television rights to all matches in the competition.’

IS BINDRA

same set of interviews

“Finally, on 17 June 1994 I wrote to the Director General, DD, saying, ‘I’d like to reiterate on behalf of the Board of Control for Cricket in India our desire and commitment to fully explore the potential of arriving at a mutually acceptable agreement regarding the production and broadcast of Indian cricket, both international and domestic, with your esteemed organization. Such an agreement can encompass a suitable arrangement between TWI and DD for co-production of an internationally acceptable signal.’

Doordarshan, however, continued to be obdurate.

RATIKANTA BASU

Director General of DD (on 20 September 1994)

“Until last year, it was Doordarshan that telecast the home series and also a few other series played abroad. They (Bindra and Dalmiya) have not even met us on the issue. Why should Doordarshan talk to intermediaries like Trans World International?”

The problem was finally resolved in February 1995 when the Supreme Court upheld the BCCI plea that telecast of matches by its chosen broadcaster was part of the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression. The order was passed by a division bench consisting of Justices PB Sawant, BP Jeevan Reddy and S Mohan.

In the words of the Supreme Court order: ‘The airwaves or frequencies are public property. Their use has to be controlled and regulated by a public authority in the interests of the public and to prevent the invasion of their rights. The right to impart and receive information is a species of the right to freedom of speech and expression guaranteed by Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution. A citizen has a fundamental right to use the best means of imparting and receiving information and as such to have access to telecasting for the purpose.’

Having won the battle against Doordarshan, the BCCI finally started making big money on cricket rights from the turn of the millennium, selling the rights to Doordarshan for four years (2000-2004) for $54 million.

JAGMOHAN DALMIYA

(same set of interviews)

“Indian cricket was now a robust property. We were glad that Doordarshan agreed to pay approximately Rs 240 crore for rights for the years 2000-2004.”

Between 2000 and 2004, the rights multiplied manifold in value and when Dalmiya once again tried selling the rights in 2004, he got a bid of $308 million from Zee Telefilms. ESPN’s was the second highest bidder at close to $300 million. However, the rights weren’t awarded to Zee on technical grounds and the matter went to court with both parties alleging foul play. The rights were finally awarded to Nimbus by the new BCCI dispensation under Sharad Pawar, with Lalit Modi driving the deal in 2006 for $612 million, subsequently renegotiated to $549 million (Rs 2,400 crore at 2006 rates).

LALIT MODI

on the Nimbus deal, 18 February 2006

“Indian cricket had been undervalued. Now we are beginning to see the real value of the property.”

The Nimbus contract was extended for another four years in 2009. This time round, Nimbus agreed to pay Rs 31.25 crore per match. Once again Lalit Modi was at the forefront of negotiations. The deal was finally scrapped in 2011 with the BCCI pulling up Nimbus for non-payment of dues, and the contract was finally awarded to the Star group for six years from 2012 to 2018 for Rs 3,851 crore.

UDAY SHANKAR

CEO of Star Group, 4 April 2012

ON STAR’S VISION

“For us it is a long-term strategy. We believe in the brand power of cricket and have invested in the brand long term. There’s no doubt cricket will continue to be the driver of the sports business realm going ahead.”

“In collaboration with our partner ESPN, we will do a commendable job. We have already got three channels which have a lot of credibility and we will showcase cricket in this bouquet of channels.”

ON THE IMPORTANCE OF CRICKET IN INDIA

“I think as far as Indian identity is concerned, cricket overtakes even Bollywood. While Bollywood is a big source of entertainment, its conscious articulation as an Indian medium by the common people is not so pronounced. But cricket is perhaps the most conscious nationalistic activity Indians indulge in. To that extent, there is no cricket minus India. Every time you watch cricket, you are reminded, consciously or subconsciously, of the Indian identity… in terms of importance, cricket has now left Bollywood far behind. It is next only to big political stories and really big economic stories… And very often, it overtakes political and economic stories as well.”

“For an average Indian cricket lover, a player doing something that costs India the match is the closest thing to treason… The kind of interventions we make in other activities like politics, civic and municipal administration, and economics, we have now started making in cricket. In the same way that I look at who is responsible for misery during the Bombay floods, who is responsible for this goof-up in administration, we look at who is the culprit of the match.”

Shankar argues that under Star, the next major innovation will happen in the domestic cricket broadcast space.

“The next round of innovation (pause), though it is too early for me to say this, will have to come in the domestic cricket broadcast space. The domestic cricket experience in India continues to be poor. The number of cameras used is far fewer, the best analysts are not used and overall the experience has not been marketed well. There is no difference, in essence, between the Indian Premier League and the Ranji Trophy, for example. Both are domestic competitions run by the BCCI and there is no reason why we can’t make the domestic cricket broadcast experience something to look forward to for the passionate Indian cricket fan.”

“In fact, in domestic cricket, the connect is greater because all the cricketers are from a particular Indian state or region and are not hired arsenal who will be there just for six weeks. Yes, I agree that in a match between Bengal and Delhi, for example, there will be no connect in Tamil Nadu, but in the two competing states, there will be a lot of passion. We have to tap this passion and make domestic cricket an important property. That’s where the next round of innovation is waiting to happen.”

N SRINIVASAN

at a press conference in Chennai on 2 April 2012

“The BCCI is very happy with the deal. Now the media rights have been fully evaluated and fully priced with Star coming out with such a deal.”

Thus ends the brief history of the BCCI’s transformation—from shelling out Rs 5 lakh per match to earning Rs 40 crore a game. Is there a lesson in this? You tell us.

[withlovefrom vizag]

Infact latif is acting like a villain in 80s bollywood movies........
If he is so sure,he must speak abt it in the open.
These guys have no proof to back their allegations,and still frame guys SACHIN(GOD OF CRICKET) as some sort of guilty

[withlovefrom vizag]

Originally Posted by Namak_Halaal I think what Rashid Latif means is that Tendulkar is not as innocent as he makes out to be. By this I do not mean Tendulkar was fixing games, but rather he knew that fixing was going on in team India and played dumb to the world – pretending he didn’t know a thing. Remember it was Tendulkar who claimed he was not thinking about the 100th 100, then as soon as he scores his 100, he response to the media was "A weight off my shoulders". Clearly he was lying. Some go far as saying Tendulkar is played by the BCCI for their benefit, I disagree; I think it’s Tendulkar who is playing the BCCI and taking them – and the rest of the cricketing world - for a ride. There’s an old saying – "The quiet ones are the worst ones"

What a successful investigation.......

[waqar goraya]

on a simple deduction rather than to be investigative.....

match fixing is the name of under performing ....and that under performing is deliberate and intentional ...it is deliberate under performing, not upto your potential ....we as colleagues in colleges,organization are fully aware of the potential or skills of each other....we also have an idea of psyche and behavior of one another...yeah we know many things about our fellows..

now for a person who has been playing for years....a person whose whole life is spent in cricket...a person who knows more than any one else in the team after spending decades....
a man who is called god of cricket,genius,best batsman in the history.....and if this person is unaware of that what is going on in the group of 15 to 20 people then it is surprising..

whether there is corrupt element or not he has to be aware of this ....how is it possible that he does not know any thing after being so close and so wise ...???though it is likely that he only keeps himself at distant from shorsharaba ...

[Senman]

Originally Posted by waqar goraya on a simple deduction rather than to be investigative..... match fixing is the name of under performing ....and that under performing is deliberate and intentional ...it is deliberate under performing, not upto your potential ....we as colleagues in colleges,organization are fully aware of the potential or skills of each other....we also have an idea of psyche and behavior of one another...yeah we know many things about our fellows.. now for a person who has been playing for years....a person whose whole life is spent in cricket...a person who knows more than any one else in the team after spending decades.... a man who is called god of cricket,genius,best batsman in the history.....and if this person is unaware of that what is going on in the group of 15 to 20 people then it is surprising.. whether there is corrupt element or not he has to be aware of this ....how is it possible that he does not know any thing after being so close and so wise ...???though it is likely that he only keeps himself at distant from shorsharaba ...

Is it the norm for the bookies to attend team meeting? Do you believe someone will commit fraud after informing their team members or in the presence of an honest man? The only surprising factor I can see is the amount of conspiracy being thrown without single piece of evidence. If just an accusation is enough to convict someone then all members of the Pakistan team will be sitting inside jail.

[waqar goraya]

Originally Posted by Senman Is it the norm for the bookies to attend team meeting? Do you believe someone will commit fraud after informing their team members or in the presence of an honest man? The only surprising factor I can see is the amount of conspiracy being thrown without single piece of evidence. If just an accusation is enough to convict someone then all members of the Pakistan team will be sitting inside jail.

i can say Tendulkar is not the guilty...and no one has said Tendulkar is the guilty....but it is hard to say that after 25 years you don't know any thing.....

[Pete Rose]

rashid latif is prone to sensational non-disclosures.

[velu]

If azhar , jadeja , prabakar and others are fixing the matches , obviously it should be known to sachin about whats happenign around him.

But i guess its not easy for any mediashy person like sachin to disclose it in front fo the media and also i think he is not strong enough to do something to prevent the fixing.
Even afridi didnt do anything who obviously know the fixing part, but he advised akhtar not to keep in touch with bookies.

[Senman]

Originally Posted by waqar goraya i can say Tendulkar is not the guilty...and no one has said Tendulkar is the guilty....but it is hard to say that after 25 years you don't know any thing.....

I understood your point of view but its impossible to conclude that the fixers conducted their business in open. It is not like some social event which is shared with one another among your team mates, also the fixers don't do business 24/7, they do it discreetly and quickly. The logic is severely lacking when saying "Tendulkar has to know something" unless unknown to us BCCI appointed Tendulkar as the guardian/security guard for other players.

This info is like a goldmine to media, surely they would have had a field day even if they smell something like fixing from SRT.

[oyei]

Originally Posted by velu If azhar , jadeja , prabakar and others are fixing the matches , obviously it should be known to sachin about whats happenign around him. But i guess its not easy for any mediashy person like sachin to disclose it in front fo the media and also i think he is not strong enough to do something to prevent the fixing. Even afridi didnt do anything who obviously know the fixing part, but he advised akhtar not to keep in touch with bookies.

exactly, Sachin had to know what was happening, Latif did not accuse him of being corrupt, and personally i believe Sachin is not, Latif just stated that he should be questioned. But some of the Indian brothers are finding it hard to understand this.

[oyei]

Originally Posted by Senman I understood your point of view but its impossible to conclude that the fixers conducted their business in open. It is not like some social event which is shared with one another among your team mates, also the fixers don't do business 24/7, they do it discreetly and quickly. The logic is severely lacking when saying "Tendulkar has to know something" unless unknown to us BCCI appointed Tendulkar as the guardian/security guard for other players. This info is like a goldmine to media, surely they would have had a field day even if they smell something like fixing from SRT.

agree, at that time SRT was bigger thn cricket in India, and still is, unless the media had solid evidence against him, they would have never said anything about SRT.

[Osama_B]

Originally Posted by navroks123 It means Tendulkar knows everything....He is all Wise(Sachin 14:13/2)..That is why we call him God.

astaghfirullah

please do not make such comments. It is shirkh

[khalil1986]

Originally Posted by Osama_B astaghfirullah please do not make such comments. It is shirkh

???

[freelance_cricketer]

Originally Posted by waqar goraya i can say Tendulkar is not the guilty...and no one has said Tendulkar is the guilty....but it is hard to say that after 25 years you don't know any thing.....

I'd agree to that. The amount of time he has spent in Cricket, the influence he has over people and the home board, the connections that he has with foreign players and officials and businessmen involved in the game, he is bound to know a lot of stuff. Stuff that even the small level fixers like Salman Butt etc wouldn't know.

But none of us can say with surety that he has kept absolutely quite about that. He may well have given BCCI the relevant info. He wouldn't reveal sensitive info directly to media without concrete proof.

[DHONI183]

Originally Posted by Osama_B astaghfirullah please do not make such comments. It is shirkh

Interesting, isn´t it? He is an Atheist to whom it all doesn´t matter. Most of the contributers in this thread are Muslim to whom it should matter that evidence-less allegations are not to be supported.

[Anfield]

I know many Pakistanis like Rashif Latif for his blatant voice on match fixing, I surely not. He keeps throwing accusations without any proof. And also he has changed his opinion so many times during the trio-spot-fixing saga.

He might there not be saying Sachin Tendulkar was involved in match fixing himself, probably talking about tendulkar keeping quiet all these years. But it's still wrong throwing these stupid statements without any proof.

[Buffet]

First he talked about Steve Waugh and now Tendulkar without any proof. Waugh took care of him last time pretty well.

Waugh had good idea about anyone being accused going for a lie detector test. I think he went for it one time as well. It might not be a bad idea for Rashid Latif to go for a lie detector test if he starts taking names without proof. I am not sure if anyone outside Pakistan takes his words seriously.