CAFE
COM:PORT
CHAT JOCKEYS
EVENTS

The Harsha Bhogle Chat

But given the uproar caused by the breaking of a major media story on betting and bribery, the focus of discussion shifted to the contentious subject.

And only when it was exhausted did the conversation shift... to a review of the season gone by, a preview of the one about to begin.

A typical innings from Harsha Bhogle, this - scoring points all round the wicket with customary panache. But why take up your time telling you this, when you would much rather be getting it all straight from the man's mouth!

Here's the transcript - enjoy!

Prabhjot (Mon Jun 2 1997 19:12 IST)

hello

Hello , I am new user.

HI, all, howdy?

BTW, I am with Rediff... just logged in to let you guys know that Harsha will be here at 8, as announced... he is on his way here right now... and around 11 PM IST, you should maybe check out the sports pages, there are some major stories about betting in sports coming up...

Hi everyone

Hi, Inca, how're you?

Hi, Inca, howdy...

Sorry, this thing playing tricks on me...

hi guys

Hello all.

HI ARVIND

Did you see the latest issue of Outlook? Prabhakar has alleged that he was offered bribes by his own teammate! There is a story about match fixing.

Hi Inca!!!!

yup i READ it well arvind thats the state of afairs today:-)

You can place your bets on rsc on who it is. I'm the illegal bookie there :-)

hey arvind - 1 gives you 2 that HB won't be on time today

Hi, Shahid.

Hello, shahid

Hello, shahid

sox, Rajitha says he'll be here on time. Anyway, i'll be a sport and take it up - a tenner on that.

this is sox's brother, howdy guys!

hi sax.

SHAHID, Aaj ka POA kya hai.

HI GUYS. THIS IS HARSHA.I'M AFRAID SOX LOST A BET THOUGH IF I HAD BEEN RESOURCEFUL ENOUGH I WOULD HAVE SET IT UP

arvind bhai hows tricks?

Hey harsha, i'm missing your dulcet tones

Hey sox, remember and pay up. Hi HARSHA.

DOES ANYBODY KNOWS HOW TO EXIT THE CHAT?

Harsha, what do you think of Today's story on betting in Outlook?

Just click on any other section and off you go, Tajinder... or just hit the little x at the corner of your browser window...

Yup turn off your computer

Tajinder, if you're using Netscape, click on the back button. If you're using Microsoft's Internet Explorer, I'm sorry I don't know. Out here, it is a disgrace if we use Microsoft!!

Thanks to sax & Rajitha for your advice.

ARVIND; I THINK THE OUTLOOK STORY IS QUITE SENSATIONAL. IT WAS A STORY THAT WAS WAITING TO HAPPEN AND I FULLY AGREE WITH WHAT KAPIL DEV HAS SAID AT THE END OF THAT STORY; THAT IT WOULD BE DOING INDIAN CRICKET A BIG FAVOUR. I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE PASSION WITH WHICH CRICKET IS FOLLOWED AND THE ADULATION THAT CRICKETERS RECEIVE. IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT IS IMPROPER AND ILLEGAL IT SHOULD BE EXPOSED AND I AM ALL FOR IT

Harsha, there's this media story today about betting and match-fixing. And it talks of some TV commentators also being involved. Since you do TV, what's your take on this?

What do you think of the controversy created by Manoj Prabhakar about match fixing ?

RAJITHA; HONESTLY, THE APPARENT INVOLVEMENT OF TV COMMENTATORS DID NOT SURPRISE ME GREATLY. REMEMBER A LOT OF THEM HAVE BEEN CRICKETERS AND THIS IS ONLY A NEW AVATAR. IF, AND REMEMBER THIS IS A HUGE AND CRUCIAL IF, THEY WERE DOING SOMETHING WRONG WHILE PLAYERS, THERE IS LITTLE TO STOP THEM NOW. WHAT INTRIGUES ME THOUGH IS THAT THE UNIVERSE OF COMMENTATORS IS QUITE SMALL AND THEREFORE, THE LIST OF "SUSPECTS" SHOULD ALSO BE SMALL. BUT I HAVEN'T THE FOGGIEST.

Why do you say "this was a story that was waiting to happen .." ? Do you mean this story was already doing circles in the Indian cricketing media/players ?

Harsha>> Arising from which, do you see any hope at all of a cleanup?

harsha> Do you feel Azhar's sacking was justified??

Hi Harasha, What do you think is the defficiency of the current Indian cricket team ? A good coach ? Good captancy ? Morale ? Or is it Too much cricket ? Or too much of personel level differences among the team and the selectors

Rajitha asked, "What's your take on this?" :-) You sidestepped that one!!!

ASHOK MITTAL; I THINK ONE OF THE CRITICAL ELEMENTS IS THAT THE MAN MAKING THE ALLEGATION WAS MANOJ PRABHAKAR. IN RECENT TIMES HE HAS ACQUIRED THE REPUTATION OF SOMEONE WHO LOVES TO SENSATIONALISE. IT WOULD BE CRUEL TO CALL HIM ANOTHER SARFARAZ NAWAZ BUT HE DOES LOVE GOING OFF THE HANDLE. ALSO, REMEMBER THERE WAS A REPORT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WHICH WAS NEVER PICKED UP AND SO REMAINS IN THE REALM OF CONJECTURE, THAT DEAN JONES HAD NAMED HIM AS SOMEONE WHO MIGHT HAVE HAD A ROLE TO PLAYHIMSELF. BUT WHAT HE HAS ACHIEVED IS TO GET THE NATION TALKING AND THAT IS GOOD ENOUGH. SERVICE ENOUGH.

Hi Harasha, What do you think is the defficiency of the current Indian cricket team ? A good coach ? Good captancy ? Morale ? Or is it Too much cricket ? Or too much of personel level differences among the team and the selectors

Harsha - the Azhar qn. was a googly;pl.answer it wearing yr commentator hat, and not yr, biographer panama!

Harsha, how do you think India will perform in the coming season?

Hi Harasha, What do you think is the defficiency of the current Indian cricket team ? A good coach ? Good captancy ? Morale ? Or is it Too much cricket ? Or too much of personel level differences among the team and the selectors

ASHOK; YES, THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK GOING AROUND. SINCE ALL OF IT WAS HEARSAY, THERE WAS LITTLE PROOF BUT YES, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOR A LONG TIME AND THE SAME NAMES SEEMED TO BE DOING THE ROUNDS. I CAN'T TAKE THOSE NAMES BECAUSE I AM NOT SURE AND COULD BE MAKING A VERY BIG MISTAKE.

Harsha>> wasn't Azhar throwing away his wicket too often in recent times?

During Azharuddin's tenure, there was talk of interpersonal problems between various team members. Do you see a change, for better or worse, in Tendulkar's regime?

So you are saying that you are a bit skeptical with the story as it has come out from Manoj (nothing wrong with that, I am just curious) ? I read the story with a bit of skepticism too but what got my attention is the fact that he mentioned (if it is a fact) that Azhar and Aamir came back to the room each claiming that the other has won it. A bit intriguing if a toss takes place as it should.