Articles by "Match fixing"
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Ever since the investigations started into match-fixing allegations in the Indian Premier League, many startling revelations have come to light. Every time there comes a development, it does not come without a new and shocking aspect.

[caption id="attachment_2026" align="alignright" width="300"]Raina and Dilhsan under the match fixing radar again and ICC is still silent The past of Raina and Dilshan is evident of the fact that the two of the three players named in the charge sheet are them. (Photo: AP)[/caption]

From the suspension of BCCI head Srinivasan to the resignation of IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla; from the involvement of Test cricketer Seesanth to the arrest of Chennai Super Kings owner Gurunath Meiyappan -- every aspect was astonishing. And now when the issue is under hearing in court, the charge sheet presented by Delhi Police has created a new mayhem.

According to it, a match-fixer Sunil Bhatia has confessed that during India’s tour of Sri Lanka a cheerleader helped him meet a Sri Lankan player and later on two Indian cricketers, and the cheerleader was the friend of the three. Bhatia said the three players are sill representing their teams.

Now it is being speculated who could possibly the three players who are still part of their teams. You might still remember that during 2010 Asia Cup in Sri Lanka, a news caused quite an uproar that key actors behind fixing had been traced, and name of an Indian player was also in news. Remember? Suresh Raina! However, not only the Board of Control for Cricket in India, but the ICC itself and its Anti-Corruption and Security Unit have turned a blind eye to it and took no action.

According to the news, Raina was seen in a nightclub with a woman who was said to be in connection with fixers. Almost the same matter which was linked with Indian captain MS Dhoni that his wife was spotted with an Indian film star several time who was later arrested in fixing scandal and also came up with startling revelations.

Moreover, news about Sri Lankan opener, Tillakaratne Dilshan, were also doing the rounds that he had contacts with bookies. Initially, the ICC took a few steps in the case, but the news seemed to fade away with the passage of time.

Now considering the charge sheet of Delhi police it can be speculated that these Sri Lankan and India players cannot be other than Dilshan and Raina because of their notorious past. As for the third name, it will also be out soon.

The BCCI managed to put nuisance of Indian cricketers under the rug because of its muscle of authority in the ICC. On the other hand, countries like Pakistan, with no or less authority, cannot help its players and eventually they end up behind the bards in the UK. However, the Pakistan Cricket Board's strategy seems more appropriate because it helps make an example of the corrupt players. On the contrary, the attitude of Indian Board looks like pat on the back of their cricketers. Anyhow, let us see what time and karma have to decide with these charge sheet revelations.
So now it’s BPL after IPL. Rumours have been rife about corruption in the Bangladesh Premier League, and now the genie is out of the bottle and its first victim is Bangladesh’s former captain Mohammad Ashraful.

[caption id="attachment_1322" align="alignright" width="300"]Ashraful said he confessed to save national cricket (Photo: AFP) Ashraful said he confessed to save national cricket (Photo: AFP)[/caption]

The development, at the time when spot-fixing has rocked the neighbouring country India, throws the future of league cricket into question. After the admission of guilt by Mohammad Ashraful, the newborn Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) must be in disaster as the world’s biggest cricket league, IPL, is also suffering from the spot-fixing scandal. After the arrest of three Rajasthan Royals players, the extent of investigation widened and resulted in the detention of Gurunath Meiyappan, the owner of Chennai Super Kings and son-in-law of Indian cricket board’s president N Srinivasan. Moreover, several high-ranked officials, along with Srinivasan, of the Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) have either resigned or distanced themselves from the board.

One of the most senior Bangladesh players, Ashraful, confessed in front of the ICC Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) that he had been involved in match- and spot-fixing in the BPL. The BCB has banned him from all forms of cricket until the ACSU completes its investigations and presents a report in this regard.

Ashraful met ACSU officials last month. Taking to the media about the meeting, he said the unit called him on for the first time in his career and he confessed to all his wrongdoings. He said that by doing all this he was trying to save Bangladesh cricket. However, he apologised to his fans and friends for disappointing them.

BCB chief Nazmul Hassan said that he called on the ASCU after reports of match-fixing in the league which culminated in the admission of Ashraful. Now, the ICC will further investigate into the matter.

Ashraful has captained 13 Tests, 38 ODIs and 11 Twenty20s for Bangladesh. Overall, he has played 61 Tests and 177 one-dayers.

Now, all eyes are on the ACSU report which is going to be presented to the ICC. The report will give further insight into the BPL and will tell about the possible of involvement of other players in the fixing scandal.
The whereabouts of Pakistani umpire Asad Rauf, who has been in hiding for the past few days, are now known and his family says he is Pakistan.

[caption id="attachment_1158" align="alignright" width="300"]The number of batsmen given lbw by Asad is twice as compared to any umpire in the ongoing IPL (Photo: Getty Images) The number of batsmen given lbw by Asad is twice as compared to any umpire in the ongoing IPL (Photo: Getty Images)[/caption]

Rauf came under suspicion soon after the latest spot-fixing scandal emerged in the Indian Premier League (IPL). After his appearance in the May 15 match between Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indian, he was said to be in the custody of Mumbai police for investigation.

In the wake of media reports that Rauf was under police investigation, the first step the International Cricket Council (ICC) took was that it withdrew him from the next month’s Champion Trophy, where he was to umpire.

When Cricnama contacted his family on Saturday noon, they confirmed that he had returned to Pakistan on Tuesday at Lahore. Considering the version true, the ICC’s statement that Rauf was being investigated by Mumbai police falls flat on its face. But the thing that raises doubt is Asad’s silence all the while.

Asad’s family, too, did not comment on the spot-fixing scandal, but insisted that he was innocent. The umpire will soon speak to the media to defend himself, but presently he is bound by the ICC’s code of conduct to not discuss the matter.

Indian police have also confirmed that Rauf had left for Pakistan a few days ago.

Rauf was earlier caught in a sexual scandal involving Indian model Leena Kapoor, and his career would be over if the investigations do not go in his favour. Interestingly, as many as 21 lbws have been given by Rauf in the ongoing IPL, which is the most by any umpire in the tournament.
Match-fixing and spot-fixing have been the bane of cricket and have come into effect many a time lately, showing the murky face of the game. Where, on the one hand, some players were given befitting punishments as a result, on the other, many fans have lost their hopes in cricket.

[caption id="attachment_95" align="alignright" width="300"]Pakistani batsmen lost wickets at the time when the match was in their grip Pakistani batsmen lost wickets at the time when the match was in their grip (Photo: BCCI)[/caption]

The penalties given to three Pakistani players after 2010 spot-fixing scandal set an epitome of what could have been the repercussions of pursuing such devious means. But still eyebrows are raised over a few matches. For instance, the third match of the just-concluded one-day international series between Pakistan and India came in the limelight after match-fixing allegations surfaced.

The archrivals came face-to-face first time in five years. After levelling the two-match Twenty20 series, Pakistan unexpectedly took an unassailable lead of 2-0 in the three-match ODI series. The third match in Feroze Shah Kotla Stadium, New Delhi started off with Pakistani bowlers stealing the show, restricting India to 167 runs. Chasing the target, Pakistan got a steady hold on the match and at one stage they required just 55 runs in 16 overs with seven wickets in hand. But the result: Pakistan lost the match by 10 runs as India bowled them out with one over remaining.

This unexpected result prompted many people to dub the match “fixed”. Former England cricketer Paul Nixon suggested on Twitter that Pakistan had deliberately lost the match.

“Pakistan throwing this game away eh ! #thereisasurprise 24 from 24 ...Strangely my money is on India $$$$ from here ...Watch this space,” he tweeted.

He was tweeting as Pakistan were giving back-to-back wickets to India and losing their grip on the game.

He also retweeted many posts, including the one in which someone criticised Pakistan’s Mohammad Hafeez for playing a lap sweep despite knowing there was a fielder in the leg slip: "this game is a joke especially when u see hafeez play a lap sweep with a leg slip in place."
"It must be India's 12th Man.....the Bookmaker!" Nixon retweeted another post.

Nixon opined that it wasn’t a big deal for Pakistan to hand victory to Indians as they had already won the series 2-0.

The 42-year-old played one T20 and 19 ODIs for England, including the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies.

Given Pakistan’s performance in the match, do you think the match was fixed? If your answer is in the affirmative, then do you think ICC’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) will come forward to address the issue?