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On the
Fourth day of the Indo-Pak Test at the Ferozshah Kotla ground last year,
Indian skipper Azharuddin reportedly received a short message from a
groundsman: "Ask Kumble to bowl from the Pavilion end. A spot near
the striker's crease will make the ball jump and bite."
The message could have ended as just another helpful tip from a friendly
groundstaff. It did much more than that, though. It changed fortunes. For
both those on the field and off it.
Kumble ended the day with all the 10 wickets, crushing Pakistan
single-handedly. He was delighted. So were some others, but for very
different reasons. They had made crores in a day, with only high mobile
phone bills to show as investment.
Where does that leave poor Kumble and his record? He had nothing to do
either with the creation of the million-rupees rough-spot on the pitch or
the decision to switch him to the Pavillion end. He bowled honestly and
sincerely, as he is known to, for a haul that took him into the record
books.
Remember him pumping the air with joy? Yet, he is looking now at the
possibility of having his record sullied by the actions of those who threw
away their wickets and the game and cheated millions all over the world.
It's sad they did not even spare their own team-mate.
These men, professional punters all, had placed bets on the end from which
Kumble would bowl -- and also on when and who would take the most wickets,
and whether there would be a decision in the game. To Non-Delhi bookies
and punters it may have appeared like just another bet, while the Delhi
boys knew what they were on to.
A quick flashback to that morning of February 7. A Delhi District Cricket
Association regular, who passed on the message from the groundsman to
Indian captain Azharuddin, recalls that Azhar appeared not to show any
interest in the information initially.
To the DDCA man's surprise, contrary to the groundstaff's advice, Kumble
was brought on from the Delhi Gate end -- and Pakistan, chasing a target
of 420 runs, reached the 100-mark without losing a wicket till lunch.
Post-lunch, however, the captain switched the leg-spinner to the Pavilion
end.
A few deliveries later, the scoreboard read: 101 for two. To his credit,
Kumble bowled on the spot - and, by tea, he was making history.
"The tip off appeared to be genuine," said the DDCA source.
Azhar had probably decided to take the groundsman's advice. But why so
late?
"Well, that's for you to decide," grinned the source. And then
came the punch line. "Only three people —Azhar, the groundsman and
I— knew about the magic spot in the morning. By lunch, almost every
bookie seemed to have had it figured."
So, what was the bottomline. "A bookie I have known for several years
told me in the evening that transactions to the tune of several hundred
crores were made just on that one line," said the DDCA source. |
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