I used to take Kapil to dinners & meet family, says SA bookie

I used to take Kapil to dinners & meet family, says SA bookie
AGENCIES

CAPE TOWN, JUNE 26: South African bookmaker Hameed Cassim ‘Banjo’ said on Monday he had become friendly with former India captain Kapil Dev during India’s 1992-93 tour of South Africa. Cassim, who was named by disgraced South African skipper Hansie Cronje in the latter’s testimony said he used to take Kapil Dev to dinners and to meet family and friends.

Testifying before the King Commission probing match-fixing and betting in cricket in South Africa, Cassim, who is of Indian origin, said he was invited by Kapil Dev to India where he was instrumental in organising a benefit match for Madan Lal. He said Kapil Dev once gave him one of his Test caps and his autobiography.

Cronje had stated before the commission that he had been under intense pressure from Cassim and his friend Sanjay to throw a match during the one-day series in India early this year.

Cassim, who also owns a sweet meat shop in Johannesburg, said since early nineties whenever India visited South Africa he used to organise vegetarian dinners for the players at his house in Johannesburg as well as in Cape Town.

He said besides taking care of the needs of the players, he also arranged for Ajay Jadeja, Javagal Srinath and Ajit Agarkar to undergo surgery in South Africa.

Cassim said he also introduced Indian actress Reena Desai to Cronje and some other South African cricketers. He said it was during the one-day triangular series involving South Africa, England and Zimbabwe that Reena Desai visited South Africa.

``It was during one of South Africa's practice matches at The Wanderers that I took Renu (Reena Desai) to meet the players. I can remember I introduced her to Herschelle Gibbs, Shaun Pollock, Lance Klusener but she was particularly interested in meeting Jonty Rhodes and Hansie Cronje.''

Cassim also disclosed he had arranged a meeting between bookmaker Sanjay Chawla and sacked South African cricket captain Cronje in a hotel in Durban during a one-day match between South Africa and Zimbabwe early this year.

``During the meeting, Chawla handed over an envelope to Hansie who put it into his pocket.''

He said although he had not concentrated on the conversation between Chawla and Cronje, he had heard the bookmaker telling the former South African captain ``keep this and we'll talk about it later.''

``I was a bit surprised that Hansie took the envelope,'' Cassim said, adding Chawla and Cronje had discussed about pitches, match forecasting, scores and team selection.

Cassim told the panel of inquiry he met Chawla after receiving a phone call from him saying he was about to visit South Africa. He had heard Cassim had extensive contacts with South African and Indian players.

Cronje earlier admitted he had received a mobile phonebox full of American dollars at the meeting. According to a document handed in by state prosecutor Shamila Batohi, Cassim's mobile telephone statement reveals 180 calls to Cronje, 146 of which were made during the triangular series between South Africa, England and Zimbabwe in January and February.

He also made 33 calls to South African batsman Daryll Cullinan, 30 to spin bowler Paul Adams, 28 to all-rounder Lance Klusener and several to various other players. Many of the calls were not returned, although Cronje phoned Cassim 11 times. Chawla phoned Cassim 29 times.

Cronje admitted last week during cross-examination that he had been offered $100,000 by Chawla to ``throw'' a match during a one-day series in India in March.

The document also reveals that Cassim made regular calls to team manager Goolam Rajah and players Paul Adams, Daryll Cullinan, Herschelle Gibbs and Lance Klusener.

``It's in my nature to phone all players at all times,'' Cassiem said. ``I feel it's an honour to be in contact with them.''