This fact came to the notice yesterday when Union Sports Minister, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa made the CBI's much-awaited match-fixing report public. The report said that a bookmaker Mukesh Gupta had claimed in a testimony that Sri Lankan skipper Arjuna Ranatunga and Arvinda de Silva helped him fix Indian victory in Lucknow. However, Ranatunga has denied this allegation.

"I doubt that match was fixed as I didn't see any laxity on the part of Sri Lankan fielders or batsmen to do favour for India," the then caretaker of the 'Babu' Stadium Rohit Chaturvedi recalls.

But the former chairman of the UP Ranji Trophy Selection Committee, Rohit Chaturvedi terms the allegation as 'so embarrassing' for both the local cricketers and the common people.

"This has put a black mark on Lucknow cricket, if the charges are correct," he said, adding, "Guilty should not be spared at any cost."

"Being a Lucknowite I feel cheated and for me the revival of cricket's glory will take a long time," he added.

For renowned cricket lover Askari Hasan, who organises the Sheesh Mahal Tournament every year at this 'fixed' venue -- the news was most shocking as he had no words to express his shock when approached for his reaction.

"I can't believe this. If they (Azhar and party) have done it they have no right even to enter in the field again," Askari Hasan, 70, said, adding, "I removed the posters of Azharuddin and Ajay Jadeja from my room as soon as I read the headlines today."

"I am not going to watch the game of these two in future. Azharuddin has not only ruined his image but the game also."

Almost all the top stars including Azharuddin, Jadeja, Navjot Sidhu and Nayan Mongia remain a regular feature of the Sheesh Mahal tourney.

Former Sports Secretary and now a cricket columnist, Manohar Subrahmanyam was also stunned to know 1994 Test which he saw all five days, was fixed.

"It is very difficult to believe. It is true that Sachin Tendulkar and Navjot Sidhu both struck centuries, but they were not given any kind of liberty by the Lankan bowlers.

"I don't agree with this charge as Sri Lankans in no manner were not up to winning the Test. India had a clean sweep in both one-day and Test series at home," he added.