A top Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) source told total-cricket, “there was someone from the CBI keeping an eye on their activities in the dressing-room, the hotel where they stay and other details. Players were naturally unaware of his presence, what he looks like and his modus operandi, but he has done his job.”

The official added that no untoward incident was reported and all was “fine with this Test”.

The CBI recently concluded its preliminary inquiries on the charges of corruption in Indian cricket. The investigating agency then came out with a 162-page report wherein it accused five India cricketers—Mohammed Azharuddin, Ajay Sharma, Manoj Prabhakar, Ajay Jadeja and Nayan Mongia—to have been in close connection with bookies. The report was then made public by the then cabinet Sports Minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa.

The CBI is now into its second phase of investigations and haven’t closed the preliminary inquiry either.

Meanwhile, the CBI spy had also met some of the officials close to the Indian team during the Delhi Test. “Yeah, the inquiry was about basic things. How do players move around, whom to they meet etc.”

It was not clear whether this was only restricted to this Test or the players will be under a close eye for the whole Zimbabwe tour.

A similar exercise was also considered by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief General Tauqir Zia just before the triangular tournament in Singapore in August. A PCB spy was to keep an eye on the players’ activities. The plan was later shelved, as according to General Zia it sent wrong signals to the players.