SMH.COM.AU
Sydney: Former Australian Test cricketer Mark Waugh has denied that he ever knew Indian bookie Shoban Mehta, who has admitted of maintaining links with him during his playing days.
During interrogation by the Gujarat police, Mehta revealed that Waugh used to supply him match-day information, which would subsequently help him in running his betting rackets.
He also claimed that at times he used to contact the Australian cricketer an hour before the start of play to receive tips on weather and pitch conditions and the latest team changes.
In 1995, Waugh was fined 10,000 dollars by the then Australian Cricket Board for supplying weather and pitch information to an Indian bookmaker identified only as "John".
Through his agent Leo Karis, Waugh said that he was not concerned by the new allegations, and he had no case to answer in regard to Mehta's statements for all he knew, Mehta and "John" could be the same person.
"Mark denies ever knowing this guy, or speaking with him or dealing with him. "I've no idea whether this guy could be John.
That's not for us to determine. The thing is, Mark went through two corruption investigations and it was found he had no case to answer," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Karis as saying.
Waugh'e agent further said that corruption investigations had not found Waugh guilty of anything other than supplying information to John.
Besides Waugh, the Indian bookie has also named former South African captain (late) Hansie Cronje, and former Indian players Mohammad Azharuddin, Ajay Jadeja and wicket-keeper Nayan Mongia for passing on pitch and weather-related information to him.
