MUMBAI: Vinod Kambli, the former India batsman, has made a sensational claim that he suspected the 1996 World Cup semi-final encounter between India and Sri Lanka was fixed.

The game in question is famous for the dramatic Indian collapse which shocked the cricket world. While chasing a target of 252 on a crumbling surface at the Eden Garden in Kolkata, India collapsed from being 98 for one at one stage to 120 for eight. This attracted the wrath of the Kolkata crowd who vented their anger by throwing water bottles on to the field of play.

In an unprecedented move, match referee Clive Lloyd stopped the proceedings and awarded the game to Sri Lanka.

Kambli made the shocking claims on Star News. He also stated that he was suspicious of the Indian captain’s (Mohammad Azharuddin) decision to bowl first thought it had been unanimously decided to bat first if India won the toss.

Kambli was the last recognised batsman at the crease when the match was stopped. He left the field in tears. “I cried because I thought I was robbed of a chance to do it for my country. The entire team hugged me. Most of us were crying,” Kambli was quoted in Star News.—Agencies