Former India cricketer Yograj Singh, father of 2011 World Cup hero Yuvraj Singh, has once again stirred controversy by reviving the debate over the 1997 match-fixing scandal. Yograj has directly questioned why the case involving legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev was closed and never revisited, suggesting that reopening it could tarnish the reputations of several cricketing greats.
The case dates back to 1997 when former India all-rounder Manoj Prabhakar accused Kapil Dev of offering him money to underperform. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) launched a detailed inquiry but ultimately found no evidence against Kapil, clearing him of all charges in 2000. However, Yograj believes the matter was intentionally buried to protect big names in Indian cricket, including Kapil and former captain Mohammad Azharuddin.
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“Ask the journalists where the match-fixing file is, lying closed in the Supreme Court. First Kapil Dev’s name came up, then Azharuddin’s, and many others. Why was the file shut and not reopened? Because if it’s opened, many legendary heads will roll,” Yograj Singh told InsideSport.
This is not the first time Yograj Singh has lashed out at cricket icons. Over the years, he has been openly critical of Kapil Dev, MS Dhoni, and even Bishan Singh Bedi, accusing them of mistreating players and damaging careers.
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“I’ve spoken about Bedi, Kapil, and Dhoni because I’ve been around them. They treated people badly. What’s wrong is wrong. Our captain destroyed cricketers’ careers,” Yograj Singh claimed. He also referenced comments from stars like Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, and Harbhajan Singh, who have previously voiced frustrations over team management decisions.
“MS Dhoni doesn’t want to answer. Anyone who avoids answers carries a guilty conscience,” Yograj Singh added, reigniting debate over leadership controversies in Indian cricket’s modern era.
