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North Korean Leader Makes Surprise Visit to China; Saudi Capital Targeted by Missiles from Yemen on Sunday; Australian Player Caught Tampering with the Ball During Cricket Match. Aired 11-12n ET

Aired March 28, 2018 - 11:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[16:00:00] BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: North Korea's dictator makes a rare trip abroad and gives China a chance to flex its foreign policy muscles as

Kim's historic talks with Donald Trump loom. We're live in Seoul to see what all of this means this hour.

Also marking three years of war that pits the Middle East's biggest rivals and their proxies against each other. I talk to the spokesman for the

Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.

And it's just not cricket. Or is it? We have the latest on dirty tricks in the sport known as the gentleman's game.

Hello, welcome, I'm Becky Anderson. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD live from Abu Dhabi where it is 7 o'clock in the evening.

For any other foreign leader making an overseas trip to visit an ally is well, rather routine or part of the job. But for this man it is anything

but. We now know it was the reclusive North Korean leader aboard this train that mysteriously pulled into Beijing earlier this week. Kim Jong-un

traveled to the Chinese capital to brief President Xi Jinping on the rapid diplomatic developments on the Korean Peninsula.

It was the young leader's first foreign trip since he took power back in 2011. It was earlier that same year that Kim's father Kim Jong-il traveled

to Beijing to meet the then-Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. Such a high-level meeting between Pyongyang and Beijing hasn't taken place since, at least

until now. CNN's Ivan Watson is in Seoul with the details of those high- level talks. Ivan, they're significant.

IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: They are. I mean, this has been a remarkable reversal that we've seen here, because North

Korea, up until fairly recently, was basically being shunned, not only by the U.S. and its allies here in the region, but by China, its most

important patron and ally. And arguably up until very recently, Kim Jong- un was one of the world's most internationally isolated leaders. And that has all changed.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WATSON (voice-over): China and North Korea dropped the diplomatic bombshell on Wednesday, simultaneously confirming that North Korea's leader

made a secret four-day visit to China. They waited until after the meeting was over and after the special train carrying Kim Jong-un crossed the

border back into North Korea to reveal that the visit took place.

This is Kim's first foreign trip since he assumed the throne in Pyongyang more than six years ago. China is North Korea's oldest ally. But the

relationship has been frosty for years, especially after multiple North Korean nuclear weapons tests and missile launches, which were banned by the

united nations. In Beijing, China's leader gave Kim and his wife the red- carpet treatment. Xi Jinping called their alliance a strategic choice that shouldn't change because of individual incidents.

As for Kim, he suggested denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula could be possible if the U.S. and South Korea cooperate. This is the surprise

beginning to what's expected to be a busy period of high level diplomacy for North Korea's young leader. He's scheduled to hold a summit with the

South Korean president in April. And sometime after he may make history with a face-to-face meeting with President Trump.

The White House, quick to claim credit for Kim's trip to Beijing, arguing it's the result of the so-called maximum pressure campaign to impose

economic sanctions on Pyongyang. If all goes according to plan, Kim will rapidly go from extreme international isolation to sitting down at the

negotiating table with the leaders of the two most powerful nations on the planet.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WATSON: Now, Becky, was this an example of Xi Jinping of China exerting its strength over North Korea, basically summoning the North Korean leader

to this meeting in Beijing ahead of expected talks with the U.S. president? Or was it the reverse.

[11:05:00] Was this Kim Jong-un, the young leader, who was able to leverage upcoming summits with the South Korean president and then President Trump,

to get an audience with Xi Jinping, who had previously apparently tried to distance himself from the North Korean regime? It's hard to know right

now.

What's clear is that when South Korean President, Moon Jae-in, sits down with the North Korean leader in the weeks ahead, Kim Jong-un will not be as

isolated from China as he was in the past. And Kim Jong-un will have strengthened his alliance with China when he sits down to the negotiating

table sometime after that with President Trump. So, it's a remarkable reversal we've seen in just a matter of weeks here on the Korean Peninsula

-- Becky.

ANDERSON: Ivan Watson is in Seoul for you. Ivan, thank you for that. Later this hour, viewers, we'll get you to Washington to discuss whether we

should consider this trip an endorsement of U.S. diplomacy, or as many would have it, a power play by Beijing. That coming up.

Russia is warning that the world risks entering into a new cold war if the West presses ahead with punishing moves against Moscow. The Kremlin

threatening retaliation but has yet to announce a response to what was the unprecedented mass expulsion of Russian diplomats by more than two dozen

countries over the poisoning of a former Russian spy on British soil. Russia denies any involvement with the nerve agent attack.

CNN's international diplomatic editor, Nic Robertson is following developments from Jerusalem tonight where he is on assignment. Nic, this

is unprecedented coordinated western action against Russia. The very latest from Luxembourg and pulling their ambassador from the country. What

is likely do you think to be the concrete effect on Russian intelligence and diplomatic efforts in Europe and the U.S. going forward?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Well, in Britain, because it was about a third of the diplomats operating in the U.K.,

believed to be intelligence operatives, and because in the United States, there was 60 people there who've been now told to leave the United States.

Again, diplomats but operating as undercover intelligence officers, that was the understanding. That in those countries it might have an impact.

How lasting that impact be and what will Russia do over time to ultimately replace those people and therefore have new faces? Which will be, again,

something for intelligence officials in the United States and the U.K. to figure out now who are the operatives and what are their areas and how do

we stay on top of their activities.

But I think when you look broadly across -- although it's 150 diplomats, about, now worldwide who have been told to pack their bags and head back to

their homeland in Russia. For many countries, Germany four, but you talk about Luxembourg, Lithuania, Poland, many of those countries are just

expelling one, two, three, four maximum diplomats. So, that's unlikely to have that significant effect. It's a message. It's the message that goes

to Vladimir Putin that's important.

And there's a pause while he considers, and really the next move is very much in his hands. But will be interpreted in the West for what countries

can do next. But what they've demonstrated is unity and that's perhaps the most dangerous thing, which is what Sergei Lavrov, the Russian Foreign

Minister has been bridling against today. Saying the United States and previously Britain are pressuring all these countries -- blackmailing all

these countries into taking this action -- Becky.

ANDERSON: Yes, and how significant was the U.S. action in all of this? Because there was some talk, as we know, some skepticism about whether

Donald Trump was prepared to do anything to respond, to support the U.K. given what had happened in the country, and then this.

ROBERTSON: Yes, look, I mean, for President Trump, always these questions and he doesn't criticize President Putin. He won't do that outright. He

will speak occasionally against Russia. He did expel 60 diplomats. It's a significant number. Close a consulate in Seattle. But if you look at the

trajectory of U.S./Russia diplomatic relations, go back to the end of Obama's tenure as president, December 2016, he expels 35 diplomats.

Later on, the following year under President Trump, Russia tells the United States to cut its diplomatic staff in Russia by 755 people. The United

States then closes the Russian consulate in Florida. So, what you seen is a degradation. So, the 60 on top of that, again, is a degradation of that.

So, you have that relationship moving in a negative direction. You have a very negative message.

[11:10:00] But again, I go back to that unity and what can come out of that unity. And what we hear the talk about now, and we heard Theresa May being

questioned on it by MPs yesterday. And it is what financial actions, what Russian financial institutions can have their ability to operate overseas,

such as selling off Russia's sovereign debt to allow it to put rubles back into Russia. How can that be stopped? How can controls and pressure be

applied that way? That would be what President Putin would look at as he considers his next move because that could be the international follow-on.

ANDERSON: Nic Robertson on the story. He is our diplomatic editor. Nic, always a pleasure, thank you.

While this is taking place of course against the backdrop of another huge story in Russia. We are seeing heartbreaking scenes, as the first funerals

are held for more than 60 people who were killed in a fire at a Siberian shopping mall. Most of those victims were kids.

Along with the anguish, there is anger, with protesters demanding answers from the government. CNN's Phil Black following the story for us in

Moscow. A rare sight, Phil. Spontaneous protests and as more details emerge about the circumstances of the fire.

PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Becky. I guess there's a real mix of grief and rage consuming so many people in Russia at the

moment. Grief for the obvious reasons, that so many people were killed, 64, so many of them were children. On this national day of mourning in

Russia, more than a dozen funerals were scheduled to take place.

The number of children killed has been confirmed at 41 so far. That number could rise further because there are a number of bodies, quite a few that

still require a lot more work in order to formally identify them. And then there's the rage. We saw angry crowds on the streets of Kemerovo, very

quickly after the fire, crowds demanding justice and answers. We saw crowds like that last night in the capital, Moscow too.

Thousands of people attended what was initially a quiet, respectful candlelit vigil. But it became something louder and angrier. People

brought signs. They chanted things like "corruption kills" and "Putin must resign." Now the President Vladimir Putin has promised a thorough

investigation. Promised punishment for those responsible. Investigators have already arrested five people including administrators at the shopping

mall and even the local security guard who has said that the fire alarm there hadn't been working for around a week. Investigators have said that

fire exits were blocked.

What people are angry about here, many people, is the sort of corruption and incompetence that allows a shopping mall to operate like that in such a

clearly unsafe way. Because what they are -- what they believe is that this is not an isolated example, the sort of officialdom that exists here

in this country. They essentially blame what they consider to be a broken system and the man who presides over it. So, for all these reasons, this

is more than just a national tragedy with Vladimir Putin leading the mourning, leading that national grief. It's a real test for Putin and his

leadership and his government, a real crisis that has come just days after he had been reelected to yet another presidential term -- Becky.

ANDERSON: Phil Black in Moscow for you.

Earlier today, crowds in Paris paid their respects to the police officer killed during a terror attack in southwest France last week. A motorcade

made its way through the rain in a national tribute to Arnaud Beltrame. The attacker, an ISIS supporter, held hostages at gunpoint in a supermarket

on Friday. Beltrame voluntarily took the place of female hostage but was killed after a three-hour standoff. The French President, Emmanuel Macron

posthumously awarded the officer the prestigious legion of honor medal, Legion d'Honneur. CNN's Jim Bittermann is in Paris for you. This tribute,

a moving one paid to what many are calling France's hero.

JIM BITTERMANN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Indeed, Becky. I think a hero overnight. In fact, Arnaud Beltrame, up until last Friday,

was the commander of the gendarmerie post -- was a kind of lost in Southern France. But then because of his decision during that hostage taking on

Friday, the decision to replace one of the hostages with himself, and to confront the gunman who had attacked the supermarket, he in fact took a

decision that now is legendary. And a lot of France wanted to turn out today, starting with President Macron.

[11:15:00] But hundreds of other people turned out along the route, but also at Les Invalides, the big military symbol here, the military monument

here. At Les Invalides there were hundreds there on hand including two former presidents, Sarkozy and Hollande who showed up also to recognize his

heroism. Macron spoke very movingly about Beltrame's actions. He said, life counted a lot for Beltrame because it like life, the source of his

vocation to serve. And he said, the first decision -- the decision was a loyalty to himself and to his values.

He used it as a teaching moment for young people. He said, I say to French young people who dread the future, the reality is here in front of us,

gesturing at the coffin that was in state there at Les Invalides, but not in the fanatical wanderings. It's in the service and the self-sacrifice

and the help given to others. So, he wanted to send that message to the young people of France, said, what Beltrame did, the sacrifice that he

made, was in fact an example to everyone here --Becky.

ANDERSON: Jim Bittermann in Paris.

A lot more ahead for you. Up next, the catastrophic war in Yemen, one seen here. Three years ago, Saudi Arabia firing its first missiles there, the

other, three days ago. Rebels now firing back. It's become a regional mess. What's anyone's exit strategy? My exclusive interview with the

spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, is up next. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Well, explosive constellation of missiles and counter missiles. The night sky in the kingdom next door to me here just this past weekend.

Rockets racing into Saudi Arabia, fired from Yemen.

Fired from Yemen, yes, but smuggled in, the Saudis reckon, from none other than their arch nemesis, Iran. They count more than a hundred missiles

targeting them all from there since it got involved in Yemen's war almost exactly three years ago today. This is how they are trying to prove that,

laying out the wreckage here of missiles that the Saudis claim to have shot down or that have slammed into the kingdom.

[11:20:02] Each alleged with Iranian fingerprints all over them. The man telling the world this on the left here, spokesman for the Saudi-led

coalition, Col. Turki Al-Malki. Who I am delighted to say is joining us live now into CONNECT THE WORLD, for what is an exclusive interview with

CNN. So, thank you for joining us. Let's start with specifically what you were showing just 48 hours ago to the press in Riyadh, the evidence, you

say, of Iranian fingerprints all over these missiles. What is that evidence, sir?

COL. TURKI AL-MALKI, SPOKESMAN, SAUDI-LED COALITION IN YEMEN: Well, thank you, Becky, for having me today. The evidence that we showed two days ago,

we have shown it to the whole world, not just to the people that are here attending our press conference. We are talking about the physical or the

evidence, we are talking about those physical evidence which belong to the component of the missile. We are talking about the ballistic missile.

And are talking about the infrared missile being seized inside Yemen and we have showed it to the world. We are talking about all the kind of weapons

being smuggled to Yemen. We have shared those information with our allies. And when we are showing it to the world, we are showing the physical,

exact, as fact and figures.

ANDERSON: Sir, there's clearly a battle to grab control of this region. We are well aware of that. It is very messy at present, ofttimes, between

your government and Iran. Iran then almost reflexively rubbishing your claims, and I quote, everyone knows that all routes to send arms to Yemen

are blocked, they say. And that Saudi Arabia has imposed a complete siege. This from the Iranian revolutionary guard.

So, they are insisting, sir, there is no way in. And by the way, Tehran insists Yemen is perfectly capable of building weapons like these

themselves. I want our viewers to see a map of Yemen. Explain exactly how, as you understand it, these arms then are getting in.

AL-MALKI: Would you please just repeat the question, the last of the question.

ANDERSON: Yes, so the allegation is that these are Iranian weapons smuggled into Yemen. That is a claim that Iran is rubbishing. I'm just

taking a look at the map here. Explain how these arms, as you understand it, are being smuggled into Yemen when the Iranians say that there was a

siege across the country, there is no way in.

AL-MALKI: Well, if there is any criminal in the world, when you face him with the crime, he will refuse it and it will be become as allegation. We

are not talking about allegation here, we are talking about physical evidence that we are showing the world, the physical evidence on those

ballistic missiles. The smuggling of the weapon is not starting from Iran. It starts from Bahrain in Beirut, it goes all the way to Syria, it goes to

Iran, from Iran through the sea. It come to the -- what they call another boat or another ship, and they smuggle it to inside Yemen.

If you're talking about Houthi, Houthi became as the main point for smuggling ballistic missiles, and other missiles inside Yemen. So, the

route is there and the American Navy and also Australian Navy, French Navy, they have seized some of the ships inside the international waters where

they are smuggling to Yemen. Those as evidence for Iranian regime, they are breaching the U.N. security resolution 2216, and also the resolution

2231. So, we are talking here about evidence and we are not talking about allegation. And we have shared those physical evidence with our allies.

They have checked it and they have inspected.

ANDERSON: Colonel Turki al-Malki, just yesterday, speaking at the Pentagon, America's secretary of defense giving his assessment, quote, the

Iranian support to the Houthis that gives them this capability is clearly being counted. After that he said, and I quote, in part the American

systems that they, Saudi Arabia, bought, and more importantly right now, it's the advisers we brought in to assist them in the defense of the

kingdom. Which is helping counter this influence.

[11:25:00] Just how significant are those U.S. weapons in the fight against the Houthis? And just how many advisers are there helping out?

AL-MALKI: Well, those kinds of weapons that we have, we a country or the kingdom have the right or any country in the world, they have the right to

defend themselves. So, buying those weapons, we bought it to defend our country, to defend our interests, to defend our national security. When we

are talking about those assets, we are using it now in the right time, because the Houthi and also the Iranian regime, they are threatening our

national security. They are threatening the collective security in the region. Not just the region, we are talking here about the -- they are

breaching, and they are supporting the terrorist groups around the world, in Africa and everywhere in the world.

So, using the weapon is something we have bought it for -- for defending our country and our national security. We are part of the international

community and we are supporting, contributing to preserve peace and stability. For example, if you're talking about the security (INAUDIBLE),

we are bringing peace and stability by those weapons and also the assets that we've got.

ANDERSON: So, I hear you. The Saudi foreign minister, Adel al-Jubeir, has repeated once again that Saudi Arabia has the right to respond to this

Iranian threat. Can you explain what you believe he means by retaliate? Is the suggestion that military action against the Houthi in Yemen might

actually be beefed up at this point, increased?

AL-MALKI: I am not going to comment on his excellency's talk to the media. But I am going to comment on my talk two days ago on the press conference.

When we say we will respond and we do have the right, and according to the U.N. charter and also the international law, it's very clear, it doesn't

need any explanation. The act from the Iranian regime is a hostile act, it's an act of war, to support the Houthi and the missiles is reaching the

capital of Saudi Arabia and also reaching mecca. So, we do have the right according to the international law.

ANDERSON: Let's just have a look at the scene on the ground, if you will, sir. This now a year, almost -- sorry, this now a conflict almost 3 years

in the making. And we've got some pictures of the aftermath of some of the very first bombs that were dropped on Yemen, clearly crushing buildings.

We see smoking ruins here. Day after day, this is what Yemen has incurred. This now for three years. If this coalition's action were an effort to

prevent the Houthis on the ground, has it worked? And what is the strategy, what's the exit strategy here, sir?

AL-MALKI: We are not talking here about exit strategy. We know from day one and we've been forced to this war, it wasn't our option, that we are

going for literally intervention, and according to the request by his excellency, Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi. So, we are here not talking about exit

strategy. Our objective is very clear. Our strategic objective is to get back and to restore the legitimate government of Yemen, which is recognized

by the international community. So, we remain committed for our objective and will take every action. And our strategy is very clear in Yemen. It

needs a strategic strategy and we will get the outcome of it. We are not fighting official army. We are fighting a terrorist group with the time.

And we will achieve our objective.

ANDERSON: The Saudi Arabian Crown Prince is in New York this week, and he was with the U.N. Secretary General just yesterday, voicing the need once

again for a political solution. The Prince handing over almost a billion dollars to the U.N. in its aid efforts for Yemen. But, sir, without a will

on the ground, from all of the stakeholders, there will be no political solution. Meantime, there are real concerns, as you are well aware, of a

lost generation here. Two million Yemen kids, kids out of school. There aren't that many schools to go to. The U.N. recons with two-thirds of them

damaged. There is a very little hope for this generation.

[11:30:00] Even if the coalition wins militarily, there will be a society torn to pieces, right on Saudi Arabia's doorstep. What are the plans for

that going forward?

AL-MALKI: It's not just the responsibility for Saudi Arabia. We are talking here about the coalition. The coalition in Yemen is to restore the

Yemeni government and also to protect the Yemeni people in the villages and also in the towns. The hope is there all the time. The Houthis are

obstructing the political or the transition to a political solution in Yemen. The U.N. security council resolution 2140, is particularly those

people, they are obstructing the political solution. We are taking all the effort to come to a political solution.

We know that the Yemeni parties have talked in Kuwait for almost four months. The Houthi have refused to come to a political solution. The

Yemeni government have given concession to come to a political solution. The Houthi, they need to look to the political solution. They need to put

the interests of the Yemen people, not just looking for their interests, and they have to stop their cooperation and their relationship with the

Iranian government because they became as a tool in their control.

ANDERSON: Colonel Turki Al-Malki, the spokesman for the Saudi led coalition in Yemen, thank you for joining us tonight out of the Saudi

capital Riyadh for what is an exclusive interview. Do come back soon, sir.

Just ahead, Vladimir Putin under pressure. We'll look at the diplomatic fallout from the chemical attack blamed on the Kremlin.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:35:08] ANDERSON: You're watching CNN. This is CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson. Welcome back.

Returning to our top story, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un made a surprise visit to China to meet with the President Xi Jinping. It's the first time

he's left his country since taking power in 2011. Now the U.S. seems to be claiming some credit for the diplomatic development. The White House says

the Chinese government has briefed U.S. officials on Kim's visit and that the United States remains in close contact with our allies, South Korea and

Japan.

We see this development as further evidence they say, that our campaign of maximum pressure is creating the appropriate atmosphere for dialogue with

North Korea.

CNN White House reporter, Dan Merica, joining us now from Washington. And endorsement of U.S. diplomacy or as many would have it, a power play by

Beijing which, do you think?

DAN MERICA, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: I think it depends on who you are in this scenario. The White House is certainly going to tout this as proof

that their maximum pressure campaign has worked. And I think it's important to put yourself in the mindset of President Trump here. This is

a man who has wanted to do what his predecessors couldn't do on multiple fronts here in Washington and internationally. And this is an example of

something that he hopes he can crack, something that his predecessors were unable to do. And he said that as much in a tweet just this morning.

He also was pretty optimistic about the possibility of a meeting happening between himself and Kim Jong-un sometime if the near future. And he

relayed that information on Twitter. Let me read to you exactly what he said.

He said, received message last night from Xi Jinping of China that his meeting with Kim Jong-un went very well and that Kim looks forward to his

meeting with me. In the meantime, and unfortunately, maximum sanctions and pressure must be maintained at all costs.

You're exactly right though, Becky, that this is also a power play by the Chinese government. It shows that North Korea going into a negotiation

with South Korea, with the United States, with Japan, isn't an isolated nation. They have a pretty strong ally in China. And all of this isn't

happening in a vacuum as well. At the same time that the United States is trying to negotiate this deal with North Korea, President Trump is also

ratcheting up the trade rhetoric on China and faulting the nation for intellectual property infringement. A number of things that have perturb

the Chinese officials and said that they will follow through with a trade war until the end.

So, all of this is happening at the same time, and it certainly leads one to believe here in Washington, international experts have said, that even

when North Korea enters into these negotiations with the United States, they will not be the nation the United States hopes they are. They won't

be totally isolated.

ANDERSON: And that's important, because the consequences for any upcoming dialogue between the U.S. and North Korea are front and center. Do we have

any details as to when that dialogue may start?

MERICA: It's a really great question. The White House has been a little squishy on when that might happen. You have to imagine that President

Trump at least behind the scenes is somewhat preparing for a possible dialogue between North Korea and the United States. He has been behind

closed doors for the last five days, leading many people to believe he could be preparing for a number of different things. And one of those

possibilities is of course, a possible meeting with Kim Jong-un.

The White House initially said a meeting between the two leaders would happen at least by May or by sometime in May. That has moved a little bit

to the end of May. And there's a little uncertainty on whether that meeting would happen at all during that month, when it would happen, and

where it would happen in fact, that's an open question, as to where the President would go to meet with Kim Jong-un. He has a lot of turnover at

his national security council, most notably at the top with John Bolton coming in as the new national security adviser. All of that is playing

into a little bit of uncertainty here in Washington as to when a meeting between President Trump and Kim Jong-un would actually happen.

ANDERSON: Dan, appreciate it. Out of Washington for you viewers on the story of the day.

Live from Abu Dhabi you're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. Coming up, how three Australian cricket players have been punished for cheating. That is

next.

[11:40:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MALCOLM TURNBULL, AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER: This has been a shocking affront to Australia. This cheating is a disgrace.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: That was Australia's Prime Minister on the cheating scandal that has rocked the sport of cricket. Three Australian players including team

captain, Steve Smith, have been banned for tampering with the ball during Saturday's match with South Africa. Team was in Johannesburg where the

action was. And get the details from CNN's David McKenzie. A massive cricketing country, South Africa, as is, of course, Australia. This news

is front and center. Just take us through your prism as it were.

DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Certainly, Becky. This is a huge story in the world of cricket and in South Africa, Australia and elsewhere.

These three players are household names. Particularly two of them, Steve Smith and David Warner. They've been banned, as you say, for 12 months

from international cricket and from state cricket. They're on their way to Australia where they are sure to face the ire of the press, the public.

And as you saw there the Prime Minister. So, this has gone all the way to the top in Australia.

And this scandal has kind of opened up a can of worms, as it were, in the world of cricket and the possible dodgy cheating that might have gone on

before. But certainly, in this case caught on high definition camera, Becky. This tampering of the ball, which can change the character of the

game and possibly swing it into their side. So, because they admitted it, because it was caught on camera, I think that's a reason Australian cricket

went down so hard on them. I put the question to the head of Australia cricket, whether they can repair the damage. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MCKENZIE: What is the long-term damage to Australian cricket?

JAMES SUTHERLAND, CRICKET AUSTRALIA CEO: Well, what I think there be -- I don't think that can be measured terribly easily. But clearly, this has

caused a huge amount of damage to the game of cricket as a whole and certainly Australian cricket. It's compromised the fans' confidence and

faith in cricket. And it's really our responsibility, players, administrators, coaches and others, to restore that faith and confidence.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCKENZIE: Well, the final test the match gets under way in a couple of days here in South Africa. The focus of course has been on the scandal.

Many saying now, well, time to focus back on the game itself -- Becky.

ANDERSON: David, thank you for that. We know then the punishments. We've heard the apologies. And we have seen the video evidence. But what does

it actually take to tamper with a cricket ball? And what are the competitive advantages, you may be asking? Have a quick look at this.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE REPORTER: Now to a story that is rocking the world of cricket.

[11:45:00] AMANDA DAVIES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There is no letup on the pressure on the Australian cricket team.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE REPORTER: Ball tampering has been big cricket news recently. But what does ball tampering even mean? Let's start with a

ball. Cricket balls are made of a cork core and covered in leather sewn down the middle. How polished or dull the leather is influences how the

ball will travels through the air. It passes faster over polished leather or rough. Balls get scuffed up and worn naturally during play. But

sometimes bowlers take it a step further to make the ball more unpredictable. And in the 450 years that cricket has been played, they've

come up with imaginative ways to tamper with this.

ANDREW MILLER, U.K. EDITOR, ESPNCRICINFO: Sandpaper, suntan lotion, breath mint there are all manner of ways in which to do this. One guy even

scraped the ball on the concrete in the car park once after retrieving a six.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE REPORTER: That's Andrew Miller he's a big-time cricket expert who works for ESPN.

MILLER: I don't believe there's any elite cricket team that doesn't go onto the cricket field without at least a rudimentary knowledge of how to

tamper the ball.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE REPORTER: The issue is artificially tampering with the ball is against the rules. If it helps or not, it's cheating. And that's

just not cricket.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: We want to talk more about the cricket scandal and the whole idea of cheating in cricket. Because after all, it is a gentleman's game,

we are told. Phil Walker is editor-in-chief of "Wisden Cricket Monthly." For those of you who don't know, that is known in certain circles as the

cricket bible. With us out of London today. Look, this has caused an enormous amount of damage to the game, says the Australian cricketing boss

James Sutherland. I posit this, that many people will say the crime was getting caught, not tampering with the ball, which anyone who knows

anything about this sport knows goes on all the time. Your thoughts.

PHIL WALKER, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, WISDEN CRICKET MONTHLY: I think there's a hell of a lot of truth in that. The crime versus punishment issue is an

intriguing one here, and it feels like the crime itself is not commensurate to the punishment that is being meted out. Just to reemphasize, the

captain and vice-captain of Australia will not be able to play any competitive cricket for a whole year. That is a swinging fine and

penalization there for two of their finest and established recognizable cricketers.

It feels like this has been coming. It feels like this has been a buildup of a number of individual issues accumulating into one omni-shambles, if

you like. The issue in and of itself of ball tampering one afternoon in Cape Town, well, as was said at the top of the show, this is not the first

time that ball tampering has crept to the surface in cricket. It's a dark art. It's rarely spoken about, but it's not uncommon either in truth. And

there's many, many ex-pros that have taken to social media to give a nod and a wink to say, yes, it wasn't uncommon in my time either.

The question is why we've ended up with this kind of standoff between the governors, the bosses of Australian cricket, and their star players. And

it goes back, arguably, it goes back a year or so. There was a significant kind of standoff between the two. There was an issue around pay. There

were problems between C.A., Cricket Australia, and the top brass players a year or so ago. And there was industrial action threatened. Eventually it

was settled with a court of arbitration.

But relations at the top of Australian cricket have not been good. And in part it's fed by a perception that the Australian side, they don't play

cricket in the so-called correct manner. You say maybe an inverted corners cricket is a gentleman's game. Well I think that's maybe slightly

outdated. But there is still a perception and especially in Australia that you wear that baggy green cap, that is the highest pinnacle of Australian

public life you can achieve. Turnbull, the PM said himself two days ago, there is no higher honor. And so, when you're seen to be deceitful, when

you're seen to have cheated and by the letter of the law it is undoubtedly cheating, and to try and cover the thing up as well, the extent of the

punishment is not surprising. But it is still, I would argue, excessive.

ANDERSON: Right. So, you would argue it is excessive, but you believe it's not all about what happened in this one match in tampering with the

ball, there is more to it than that. Ultimately, I mean, this story has hit the headlines around the world, at least in those places where cricket

is such a loved game. But beyond, is the game going to change as a result of this incident and these punishments?

WALKER: No, I don't think the game itself will change. The game, as perceived from the outside, that it is a gentleman's game played by

upstanding members and pillars of society, that's long gone if it was ever there at all.

[11:50:03] This is a high-end sport and with that comes certain expectations that you shave around the edges of what's reasonable and

what's legal. What may change is the perception of Australian cricket from within. Because they've become in truth a rather unsavory and rather

unpopular setup of late. Don't get me wrong, at the top of Australian cricket from a governance point of view, they want to see changes there. I

don't think the public are especially enamored with this team.

There's been a number of instances of foul and abusive behavior on the pitch, the sledging aspect, where verbal abuse is commonplace. There have

been various kind of flashpoint issues as well. And there's a kind of hubris and an arrogance at the heart of this team. And so, if they can be

recalibrated, if they can be changed, at least in terms of their own self- perception, then I think that's a positive thing. Will cricket suddenly clean up its act? No. No, no way.

ANDERSON: Right, very quickly, briefly, yes or no. Should they give the ashes back?

WALKER: I would like to say yes, but I think that would be crazy. Even if there was skullduggery taking place during the action, which it probably

wasn't. On record it probably wasn't. Then Australia would still comfortably beat the English. I mean, there is noted doubt about that.

And I say that is an Englishman.

ANDERSON: Got it, all right. Phil Walker is the editor- in-chief of "Wisden Cricket Monthly," an Englishman with his insight. Thank you, Phil.

You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. Still ahead.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

Which means music. It's the greatest gift from our family to the world.

ANDERSON: Join us for what is a master class in Indian classical music, up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Right, welcome back. Our parting shots, or your parting shots tonight. You are in for a treat as we meet Amjad Ali Khan, a living legend

of Indian classical music, and master of the sarod, a guitar-like instrument created by his own ancestors some six generations ago. We

caught up with the musician before his big performance here at the Abu Dhabi festival just days ago. Have a listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

AMJAD ALI KHAN, SAROD MAESTRO: This is my instrument. My forefathers played rubab. And from rubab they modified sarod. Actually, it is in the

family of guitar, banjo, out of wood.

[11:55:00] Sarod has 19 strings. 11 are sympathetic strings. They provide natural harmonization. And the last four strings are full-blown. And I

play on the first four strings. I always admired listening to Beethoven, Bach, Mozart, Tchaikovsky and many other great composers.

A symphony orchestra, or a guitar player or violin player, they're deeming a different kind of music. I salute what they're doing. But we are very

blessed, you know. This is a precious gift, the slight and learned. The improvisation, the word, "improvisation" is connected with Indian music.

Sarod is passion word, which means music. It is the greatest gift from our family to the world.

[SINGING AND MUSIC]

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: I'm Becky Anderson. That was CONNECT THE WORLD. Thank you.

END