Madhavan slams Ajay Jadeja for links with bookies

Indian cricket board investigator into match-fixing, K. Madhavan, has slammed batsman Ajay Jadeja for allegedly making false declarations on his links with bookies, reports said Monday.

"Jadeja was not speaking the truth before me about his involvement with bookie Uttam Chand," Madhavan said in his report, excerpts of which were published Monday by The Asian Age daily and several websites.

Madhavan said the evidence against "Jadeja clearly established that he has been close to a number of bookies and punters and has provided them information about cricket matches on payment of money."

"However, it has to be surmised that no bookie or punter will pay money (only) for 'information' which is very easily available on television and the word (information) is used as a subterfuge for under-performing and match-fixing."

The Madhavan report said Jadeja claimed to be unaware as to how bookie Uttam Chand got his cellular telephone number.

The report also reproduced records of telephone calls made by Jadeja and Uttam Chand to each other, and of calls to Jadeja by other bookies on the eve of matches, during the India-New Zealand cricket series in 1999.

Madhavan rejected Jadeja's plea that bookie Uttam Chand was telephoning him to enquire about his health.

"It is inconceivable that a healthy, strong and athletic young man like Ajay Jadeja would have ailments, which required frequent enquiries from Uttam chand or any other person."

The Madhavan report describes Jadeja's frequent contacts with bookies and punters as "thoroughly undesirable ... and borders on conspiracy."

Mail Cricket Editor