MS Dhoni. (Getty Images)

NEW DELHI: The match-fixing allegations are not a new thing in cricket and this time India ODI skipper MS Dhoni seem to have found himself in the middle of a recent expose. In a startling revelation, DDCA secretary and then Team India manager Sunil Dev claimed that India-England fourth Test played in Manchester in 2014 was fixed. He was caught saying in a sting operation done by hindi daily Sun Star.

"Given the conditions of the pitch due to rain, we have decided to bowl first in a team meeting but I was surprised that Dhoni opted to bat first" former manager Dev said in sting video shown to media persons in a press briefing held at Press Club of India, Delhi on Sunday. In the video, Dev was seen adding further that even former England skipper Geoffrey Boycott was also shocked at Dhoni's decision.

Dev said it was deliberate attempt by Dhoni to bat first and he was 100% sure that captain had fixed the match.

Dev stated he had raised this matter to BCCI and also had written a letter to then Board president N Srinivasan which he typed in former chief's office in front of him because he did not want the report to be leaked. When asked did the board take any action, he replied it seems BCCI was not affected by it as they have not reacted yet on the issue.

"People won't believe the truth," Dev said when asked why he had not wanted his report to be leaked. Dev also claimed he was appreciated by Srinivasan for his work.

When asked why he was quiet for a long time when the matter was not heard and did he ever reveal the names of players to Chandrachud commission or any other forum. Dev reply was he got bit cautious as he fear for his life.

Interestingly, Dev asked reporters, who were doing the sting, if you trapping me in an operation then I will back out from my claims and will stand with BCCI since I have been with the board for the last 40 years and BCCI is the best cricket board in the world.

However, Justice Mukul Mudgal, who head IPL spot-fixing committee, has outrightly rejected Dev's claims, saying he has no knowledge of this, if there is any truth in the story, he should have reported to the board again via email.

Mudgal has also given the example of India winning the Test after opting to bat at Leeds, Headingly where ball swings a lot and there is not much difference between Manchester and Headingly's conditions.

Justice Mudgal also said that there cannot be solid evidence of match-fixing or spot-fixing, "You can have the evidence on tape that too after tapping the phone and BCCI's anti-corruption unit is not authorise to do it, only police can do phone tapping. Match-fixing is not as common as it has been highlighted and unless there are 2-3 big players is involved, it can't be done."

