It is not just money that makes one a match-fixer. A team that fixes the outcome of the match is involved in the corrupt practices of match-fixing. Under 19 is a stage that is often called the launchpad of cricketers. Former India U-19 coach is now the head coach of team India, many state teams have gone on to appoint the U-19 coach as the State team’s head coach. Star performers of U-19 are scouted and given opportunities in the senior State team. Such is the importance of the U-19 tournaments. One of the main U-19 cricket tournaments in Assam, JK Baruah Inter-District tournament now stands at the cusp of its worst-ever period.
In group A, Silchar U-19 team was sitting at the top of the table with 4 points and 1.134 run rate after two matches. The other two teams, NF Railway and Jorhat were at 2 points each after two matches. The two-day match started yesterday in Golaghat DSA Stadium. Railway needed a big victory to qualify and so did Jorhat. Batting first, NF Railways got all out for 83. Jorhat, chasing the win declared their innings at 187. NF Railways scored 198 runs in their second innings meaning, Jorhat needed 94 runs to win the match.
At 3:09 pm, NF Railways finished their innings and the next minute, the umpires started the Jorhat’s second innings without a break. With just one hour of day’s play remaining, it was practically impossible for Jorhat to win the match. As they had a first-innings lead, they would have got two points, but they were trailing Silchar in runrate and so, there were no chance for Jorhat to top the table and qualify for the finals. When the picture was clear, conspiracy begun.
The umpires of the match and the match officials stood and watch as cricket as well as the name of a legend – JK Baruah got maligned. Jorhat was at 40 for three after 11 overs when the umpires removed the bails and called it stumps. This is the normal procedure that they follow. However, the skipper of the Jorhat Cricket team rushed to the ground and discussed something with the umpires who were on their way out. The NF Railways skipper joined too and together, they decided to put the bails again and restart the play.
Railway skipper placed all his fielders at slip and gully and the NF Railways bowlers bowled to get hammered. From 40 for three in 11 overs, Jorhat batters scored six fours and one six to reach 80 at the end of over 13. Meaning, the team that could only score 40 runs in 11 overs, managed to score the same amount of runs in just 12 balls. As a result of the clear match fixing, Jorhat’s run rate reached 1.135 just 0.001 more than Silchar. It was clear that the umpires were waiting for Jorhat to have a better run rate than Silchar and the moment they achieved the feat, the play was called off.
Coach of Silchar Cricket Team, Tathagata Deb Roy was present there himself and when he voiced his opinion against the clear case of match-fixing, the locals, including guardians of the players playing in the Railway team, started abusing and manhandling him. As per the latest available information, the General Secretary of Silchar District Sports Association, Bijendra Prasad Singh has formally written to the Secretary of Assam Cricket Association informing him about the chain of events at Golaghat. How the Assam Cricket Association handles the situation is something that remains to be seen.
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