The Doha-based TV channel Al Jazeera stunned all after they aired a sting video claiming that at least three Test matches featuring India were fixed, including the 2017 Ranchi Test match against Australia.
On May 27, Al Jazeera posted a documentary titled ‘Cricket’s Match-Fixers’ on Youtube which claimed that India versus England Test played in Chennai (December 16-20), the India versus Australia Test in Ranchi (March 16-20, 2017) and the Galle Test between India and Sri Lanka (July 26-29, 2017) were influenced by bookmakers.
The sting operation also showed that some of the Australian players were allegedly involved in spot-fixing during the Test match.
Although they did not reveal the names, the player who came under the scanner was Glenn Maxwell, who incidentally slammed his first Test century in that match. The right-handed batsman has now finally reacted to the sting and said he was ‘hurt’ as it was a special occasion for him to score a maiden Test century that too against India at their home.
While speaking to SEN Radio, Maxwell said: “I was shocked. I was a bit hurt by it as well,” he said. “To have these allegations about your involvement in a game where you’ve only got happy memories about it, great memories… I still remember the feeling after hugging Steve Smith after getting my maiden Test hundred.”
“To have that tarnished by these allegations was pretty devastating and obviously there’s absolutely no truth to it whatsoever. It was 100% unfair, to tarnish one of the best moments of my career was pretty brutal. The only thing they could have done worse was tarnish that [2015] World Cup win. They’re two of the best moments of my career. To say I’d done anything untoward in that game, when I’d just finally got back in the Test side – I’d worked my absolute backside off – to say I’d do anything to ruin that would be absolutely ridiculous,” Maxwell added.
On March 17, 2017, Maxwell became only the second Australian after Shane Watson to score a century in all formats. Maxwell took 180 balls to reach the milestone. During his 104-run knock, Maxi smashed 9 fours and two sixes. The match, however, ended in a draw.
