Vinod Kambli, a former international cricketer, has voiced his suspicions that the 1996 World Cup semi-final encounter, between India and Sri Lanka, was fixed.

Kambli, a former batsman for the Indian side, was participating in a television debate on a statement made by Paul Condon, the ex-chief of the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU), and reportedly broke down after making his statements.

Condon had earlier claimed that in the 1990s, many of cricket's leading countries were involved in fixing major matches. Kambli seemed to support the claim, by questioning Mohammed Azharuddin (the captain of the Indian cricket team during the 1996 World Cup) and his decision to field first, after winning the toss, in the semi-final against Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, Azharuddin has lashed out at Vinod Kambli for his statement.

This is the cheapest gimmick adopted by him, probably, to be in the limelight again. And, I wonder why he is making these comments now, 15 years after the World Cup semifinal loss? Who stopped him from airing these views earlier? asked the former captain.

I will not take seriously any comments attributed to me or to my decisions as India captain. No one can question my credentials and my patriotism, said Azharuddin.

Meanwhile, Ajit Wadekar, the team manager then, said electing to field was a collective decision as the team felt the Sri Lankans were good chasers. Former captain Sourav Ganguly also weighed in, stating the a decision to bat second did not mean the match was fixed.

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