Sehwag, Bhajji rubbish reports of match-fixing in World Cup semi-final

Ace cricketers Virender Sehwag and Harbhajan Singh Friday rubbished reports appearing in London’s The Sunday Times claiming that the World Cup semi-final between India and Pakistan was fixed.

Sehwag and Harbhajan, while speaking at the India Today Conclave here, vouched for the integrity of their team mates saying they were ready to answer anybody if questioned about the semi-final in Mohali that India won.

“No one from the Indian team is involved in match-fixing or spot-fixing. We are ready to answer anybody, if needed. That is what I have to say. We have nothing to hide,” said Sehwag, who has been rested for the ongoing Asia Cup in Bangladesh.

Harbhajan, who was also part of the World Cup winning squad, concurred and said he would never do wrong in the game that means more than life to him.

“I agree with Viru (Sehwag). We have learnt to play this game fairly. I play this game because I love it. I can’t be doing something wrong with the game that means a lot to me.

“The game has given everything to me. I don’t know about the people who are doing it (fixing) but no one from the Indian team can even think of doing something like that,” said Harbhajan, who has been out of the side since the disastrous England tour.

The feisty off-spinner also revealed that he was tense before the World Cup semi-final against arch-rivals Pakistan.

“I could not sleep before the match since I was tense and excited. It meant everything to win against Pakistan and from there on we won the tournament,” he said.

Former England captain Nasser Hussain, who was also at the conclave, said The Sunday Times report was not concrete.

“Read the piece the other day in the UK. It was a bit of a non-story really. If you gonna make a story and make accusations then you need to come out with names. Come out and tell people like it happened with Pakistani cricketers and one county cricketer. I don’t know about match-fixing but the spot-fixing seems to be the thing,” he said.

“It (spot-fixing) is a very serious subject. The game is about fans and young lads, who are watching their heroes,” he added.