Articles by "Spot-fixing"
Showing posts with label Spot-fixing. Show all posts

Anonymous at August 15, 2013 0
After Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir, fast bowler Mohammad Asif has also come to his senses, or, if put it other way, he thought it prudent to confess to his wrongdoings after finding all doors closed.

[caption id="attachment_2162" align="alignright" width="200"]After Mohammad Amir and Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif also confesses to spot-foxing at last (Photo: Getty Images) After Mohammad Amir and Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif also confesses to spot-foxing at last (Photo: Getty Images)[/caption]

In an emergency press conference in the Karachi Press Club, Asif apologised the nation for his actions and promised he would not repeat the same in future.

Asif insisted that he was ashamed of what he did, although he looked cool and calm during the press conference.

He said he was in talks with the International Cricket Council and the Pakistan Cricket Board and assured both that he wanted to attend the rehabilitation programme and was available anytime should the ICC and the PCB need him in this regard.

The pacer said he was hopeful is fans would forgive him.

Asif said he had much cricket left in him and that he was working on his fitness. He hoped the ICC would now treat him leniently after the apology and provide him chance to resume his international career by cutting his ban.

He advised young cricketers to refrain from fixing, as it not only brings shame for the doer, but also for his family and nation.

In August 2010, the 29-year-old bowler delivered two no-balls deliberately in a Test against England at Lord’s. The scandal was unearthed by a UK tabloid the News of the World. Later the ICC banned Asif, Amir and Butt for at least five years each.
Read more »

Anonymous at August 01, 2013 0
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.
Read more »

Anonymous at July 01, 2013 0
Although more than a decade has been passed since the inception of private channels in Pakistan, but they still seem to be too naive. Let’s take the case Mohammad Amir. Despite repeated announcements by the International Cricket Council (ICC) that it will not going to soften the pacer’s term, the channels keep on churning out trivial reports every now and then as if the bowler was going to resume his career from tomorrow.

[caption id="attachment_1805" align="alignright" width="195"]There is not a shred of evidence to support media claims that the ICC is going to Soften Amir’s ban (Photo: AFP) There is not a shred of evidence to support media claims that the ICC is going to Soften Amir’s ban (Photo: AFP)[/caption]

The ICC has recently formed a five-member committee, whose task is not what Pakistani media is trying to depict. Our media is blaming the committee that it would amend anti-corruption rules or at least change the punishment laws and, therefore, Amir would be back in the national team.

The reality is that no amendment is going to be made in the anti-corruption laws. In fact, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has demanded the ICC to allow Amir start practicing seven to eight months before the end of his term so that when he is available to the national side in September 2015, he would be ready to play international cricket.

Presently, the left-arm fast bowler is not allowed to play any form of cricket. He cannot even enter into the PCB academy. The board’s demand is just that Amir be allowed to start practice in February or March 2015 under experts’ supervision so that he is available on time. Now the ICC’s five-member committee will just look whether the leniency could be made.

Amir was netted into the spot-fixing scandal in 2010 when British tabloid newspaper “News of the World” revealed that the young pacer along with the then captain Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif deliberately bowled no-balls and bagged money from bookie Mazhar Majeed. Later, the ICC imposed lengthy bans on the trio, who were also imprisoned in Britain in separate cases of fraud and corruption.

Amir will be just 23 in September 2015. However, on moral grounds, a question arises that should he be allowed to resume his career? Or should the authorities make an example of him so that no player can think of spot-fixing, even he has talent akin to Amir.
Read more »

Anonymous at June 29, 2013 0
Pakistan former captain Salman Butt has confessed to commit spot-fixing. He admitted it for the first time before media, because he had no other option left. It means the position he maintained during the investigations done by the International Cricket Council and later in the case of corruption and fraud in England was a pack of lies. And now after being rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sports, he has decided to kneel down.

[caption id="attachment_1792" align="alignright" width="300"]Salman Butt had no option but to apologise after being rejected from the ICC, Britain’s court and the International Court of Arbitration (Photo: AP) Salman Butt had no option but to apologize after being rejected by the ICC, Britain’s court and the International Court of Arbitration (Photo: AP)[/caption]

Talking to the media in Lahore, Butt said he admitted the decision of the ICC tribunal and apologised those who had been disappointed by his wrongdoings.

Now Butt has to cooperate with ICC's anti-corruption and security unit (ACSU) and must take part in Pakistan Cricket Board’s anti-corruption course. However, Butt has presented his demands in a single day as if he was trying to make the most of his confession. He demanded the PCB to get ICC’s approval for him so that he could play domestic cricket and when he completes the ban after two year, he would be ready to represent Pakistan. Impenitent.

Butt, who was slapped with a 10-year ban after spot-fixing allegations during the Lord's Test in August 2010, remained imprisoned in England for over a year. But as if it were not enough, he challenged the ICC’s ban in the International Court of Arbitration (ICA) as soon as he was released from jail. But after having been shunned from there too he had no option but to offer an apology. Because an apology can cut his 10-year ban to half and, possibly, he may join the national team again after serving a ban of five years.

He is the same Butt who refused to accept the reality in front of the ICC investigation tribunal and, in fact, later he tried to wriggle his way out of the episode after putting blame on his teammates. Even when he returned home after serving imprisonment, he maintained that Mazhar Majeed and Mohammed Amir conspired against him. All of this fell flat on his face when the ICA also rejected his plea.

Let’s see what the PCB will do to soothe his nerves so that he stops shifting gears.
Read more »

Anonymous at June 05, 2013 0
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.
Read more »

Anonymous at June 03, 2013 0
Wickets of players, officials and other concerned people continue to fall in the wake of Indian Premier League spot-fixing scandal and today was the day of a big wicket. After resignation by the IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla, Indian cricket board President N. Srinivasan has temporarily stepped aside from his post. But he has not yet resigned which means he is the most impenitent of all in the case. He is still not out but has left the ground after being retired hurt. Former BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya has replaced Srinivasan until the investigations into the spot-fixing scandal are completed, but the latter continues to represent India in the International Cricket Council (ICC). Amazing, isn’t it?

[caption id="attachment_1289" align="alignright" width="240"]Srinivasan is not dismissed but has left the ground retired hurt (Photo: Hindustan Times) Srinivasan is not dismissed but has left the ground retired hurt (Photo: Hindustan Times)[/caption]

In an email released by the BCCI's honorary secretary, Anurag Thakur, who was not present in Chennai but communicated via video conference, the board stated:

A press release issued after a meeting of the BCCI Working Committee in Chennai on Sunday said, “Mr. N Srinivasan announced that he will not discharge his duties as the president of the board till such time that the probe is completed. Till such time, Mr. Jagmohan Dalmiya will conduct the day to day affairs of the board. The committee expressed full confidence in Mr. Sanjay Jagdale and Mr. Ajay Shirke and requested them to withdraw their resignations in the larger interest of the board.” But they are not likely to withdraw their resignations as nobody would like to go on board a sinking ship that has no chances of being rescued.

Mumbai police arrested three Rajasthan Royals players on May 16 on spot-fixing allegations, and the story that began after the investigations has turned out to be a page-turner. Srinivasan’s son-in-law and the Chennai Super Kings owner, Gurunath Meiyappan, is also under detention regarding the scandal.

But it is a tricky situation as it has not yet been made clear that who is going to prone into Meiyappan and Rajasthan Royals’ management, because the three-member panel formed for the investigations has become null and void after the resignation of one of its members, BCCI secretary Sanjay Jagdale. On the other hand, the ICC has kept mum about the whole episode.

Who is going to investigate such a huge scandal in this grave situation? God knows.
Read more »

Anonymous at June 02, 2013 0
Everybody abandons a sinking ship, even those who can’t swim. The same is happening with the (in)famous Indian Premier League (IPL). Indian police have taken the bull by its horns and now the country’s cricket board president is also in hot water as his son-in-law and the owner of most successful IPL team Chennai Super Kings, Gurunath Meiyappan, is also behind bars. The latest entry into the episode is of the IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla, who has resigned from his post.

[caption id="attachment_1268" align="alignright" width="300"]Will another big wicket be broken after Rajiv Shukla? Will another big wicket be brought down after Rajiv Shukla?[/caption]

The move came after resignations from two top officials of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The board’s treasurer Ajay Shirke and secretary Sanjay Jagdale resigned before an important meeting of the BCCI Working Committee in Chennai. However, BCCI chairman N. Srinivasan doesn’t seem to leave his post.

According to Press Trust of India (PTI), Shukla told that he had been mulling over to leave his post as the IPK chairman and he thought that it was high time that he should resign. He took the charge as the league chairman in September 2011.

The episode began when Mumbai police arrested three Rajasthan Royals bowlers over the charges of spot-fixing and later they confessed to their wrongdoings. As investigations into the incident widened, the CSK owner, Meiyappan, also came under the spotlight and he is under detention these days.

Shukla has been the chairman of the IPL, an Indian journalist, political commentator, television host and the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Planning, Government of India. He is a Member of Parliament for 13 years and secretary of central governing body of the All India Congress Committee.

The development shows that there are more wickets to fall. Let’s wait for the next delivery.
Read more »

Anonymous at May 30, 2013 0
Apart from players and bookies, the officials who came under the radar of spot-fixing investigations, in the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) season, included Pakistani umpire Asad Rauf.

[caption id="attachment_1229" align="alignright" width="247"]Asad Rauf’s name came into question after the Indian media alleged that he was in contact with Bollywood’s actor Vindu Dara Singh (Photo: Getty Images) Asad Rauf’s name came into question after the Indian media allegedly reported that he was in contact with Bollywood’s actor Vindu Dara Singh (Photo: Getty Images)[/caption]

He was reported to have been interrogated by Mumbai police in this regard before coming to Pakistan last week. He had remained silent to say a word about the matter as he was barred from the International Cricket Council (ICC) to discuss the matter. But once he was allowed to defend himself, he defended, uttering what was expected: “I am innocent.”

While it is premature to question his innocence, what can be said with certainty is that it would be the end of his umpiring career if the allegations against him proved well founded.

The 57-year-old umpire, in his first public statement since returning to Pakistan, said he was ready to face any inquiry and disavowed claims of any wrongdoing in the IPL.

The spot-fixing saga surfaced when Indian police arrested three Rajasthan Royals players on May 16 on the suspicion of spot-fixing in an IPL match against Mumbai Indians. The trio later confessed on deliberately giving away 14 or more runs in an over for money.

Rauf’s name came into question after the Indian media alleged that he was in contact with Bollywood’s actor Vindu Dara Singh, who was arrested on charges of acting as a liaison between players, officials and fixers.

Earlier, the ICC withdrew Rauf from supervising the matches in the upcoming Champions Trophy after the reports that he was being investigated by the Indian police.

Rauf also made headlines in past when he was caught in a sexual scandal involving Indian model Leena Kapoor.
Read more »

Anonymous at May 28, 2013 0
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has constituted a three-member disciplinary committee to probe into the role of the Chennai Super Kings’owner Gurunath Meiyappan in betting in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The panel comprises former Indian cricketer and commentator Ravi Shastri, a former BCCI treasurer and a retired High Court judge. Ironically, two of the committee’s members are or have been associated with the Indian cricket board.

[caption id="attachment_1194" align="alignright" width="300"]The Chennai Super Kings failed to perform in the final because of owner’s arrest (Photo: BCCI) The Chennai Super Kings failed to perform in the final because of owner’s arrest (Photo: BCCI)[/caption]

Meanwhile, BCCI’s president N Srinivasan has refuted the news that he is going to resign from his post, alleging that the media wanted his retirement, but he would not do so.

The latest scandal that rocked the cricket world began when three Rajasthan Royals players were arrested for spot-fixing. Police arrested Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila with all the evidence and the trio later confessed to their on their wrongdoing. A few fixers were also arrested as the scope of investigations widened and big names started popping up, such as the CSK’s owner and Srinivasan's son-in-law, Meiyappan.

In the wake of Meiyappan’s arrest, N Srinivasan has been under pressure as demands of his resignation abound in media. At times, it seemed that Srinivasan would come to the media and announce his resignation. However, nothing such has happened, instead the BCCI chairman said that the media was on a fool’s errand.

The most surprising aspect of the three-member committee announced today is that two of its members are or have been part of the BCCI – Ajay Shirke and Ravi Shastri. Now the question is what will they dig out? Well, if reports of previous committees are anything to go by, the answer is clear and deafening. Nothing.
Read more »

Anonymous at May 26, 2013 0
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.
Read more »

Anonymous at May 25, 2013 0
The spot-fixing scandal in India has come to a climax and it can be said without a shadow of a doubt that big guns will also be in trouble apart from players. Mumbai Police have arrested Gurunath Meiyappan – Chennai Super Kings top official and son-in-law of the BCCI president N Srinivasan – and investigating him for betting.

[caption id="attachment_1117" align="alignright" width="200"]The future of Srinivasan and the Chennai Super Kings is bleak with the arrest of Gurunath Meiyappan (Photo: IPL) The future of Srinivasan and the Chennai Super Kings is bleak with the arrest of Gurunath Meiyappan (Photo: IPL)[/caption]

Now, not only Srinivasan has lost his moral right to continue to be the BCCI president, but the future of two-time IPL winners, the CSK, also looks bleak. Various circles are demanding Srinivasan’s resignation and it seems the BCCI president could not stand it for long.

Mumbai police said they investigated Meiyappan, 35, with the help of the evidence available and arrested him after finding that he was involved in IPL betting case.

Meiyappan’s name first came under the spotlight when actor Virender "Vindoo" Dara Singh was investigated for his alleged links with fixers. According to police investigations, Virender and Meiyappan remained in contact through telephone, and the latter was also seen in the CSK’s dressing room during the IPL matches.

The matter is now affecting the Indian national cricket team and it is not just confined to the IPL, because Sahara Group chief Subrato Roy stated that his group will not sponsor the Indian cricket team as long as Srinivasan is at the helm.

Ironically, Meiyappan had been representing the CSK and was seen as the franchise’s representative at IPL auctions. But today, the CSK’s owners, India Cements, are trying to distance themselves from Meiyappan, saying that he was neither the owner nor the CEO of the franchise.

For Srinivasan, the way out seems impossible as he is not only Meiyappan’s father-in-law but also the managing director of India Cements, which own the CSK.

The CSK’s future is also uncertain. They are set to play the IPL final for the fifth time (fourth time in a row), but it might not happen as their franchise agreement can be terminated under the IPL's own anti-corruption code if allegations prove well founded. In case they play final, winning the title would be a Herculean task for them, and it will be assessed in the final at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on May 26.
Read more »

Anonymous at May 25, 2013 0
There is a calm before the storm. But a calm in the middle of the storm is more frightening. One cannot turn a blind eye to the silence of the ICC and the BCCI regarding the spot-fixing scandal in the Indian Premier League.  Those who have nose for the news have already smelt a rat that there is much more to come.

[caption id="attachment_1112" align="alignright" width="300"]Is the silence of the ICC and the BCCI regarding the IPL spot-fixing scandal is the calm before the storm? (Photo: AFP) Is the silence of the ICC and the BCCI regarding the IPL spot-fixing scandal is the calm before the storm? (Photo: AFP)[/caption]

The matter which was started with the arrest of three Rajasthan Royal players and was being perceived as an individual event is now becoming more and more complex, with big names coming under the spotlight.

After the withdrawal of Pakistani umpire Asad Rauf from the Champions Trophy following the news that he was being investigated by the Mumbai police regarding the scandal, now Gurunath Meiyappan, a top official of the Chennai Super Kings franchise and the son-in-law of BCCI president N Srinivasan, is also in Mumbai in response to summons by Mumbai Police.

Meiyappan had been referred to as he owner of the franchise on CSK website. But the latest twist into the story came when India Cements, the company that owns the CSK, denied that Meiyappan was the franchise’s owner.

What adds insult to injury for the BCCI and Srinivasan is that Sahara Group chief Subrato Roy stated that his group will not sponsor the Indian cricket team as long as Srinivasan is the BCCI’s president. The root cause of the development may be a business rivalry, however, what is to follow must be a big blow for not only the BCCI and the IPL, but also for cricket in India.

Of Meiyappan’s association with the CSK, a statement issued by India Cements said: "India Cements clarifies that Mr. Gurunath Meiyappan is neither the Owner, nor CEO /Team Principal of Chennai Super Kings. Mr. Gurunath is only one of the Members (Honorary) of the Management Team of Chennai Super Kings.

"India Cements follows zero tolerance policy and if anyone is proved guilty, strict action will be taken immediately. India Cements assures full co-operation with BCCI and the Law Enforcement authorities."

Interestingly, the bio of Meiyappan’s verified Twitter account was also changed amid the episode which further raised doubts. Earlier, the bio read, “Team Principal Chennai Super Kings, managing director AVM productions and entertainment, AVM studios, AVM constructions.” Later, however, “Team Principal Chennai Super Kings” part was removed.
Read more »

Anonymous at May 18, 2013 0
The Indian Premier League’s image has been tarnished after the recent spot-fixing controversy. Those, who had been taking the last year’s matter lightly, have now realized how deep fixing has penetrated the game. When cricketers playing Test and the biggest domestic tournament Ranji Trophy are involved in spot-fixing, it does not take a genius to realize the situation. According to latest reports, the arrested trio – Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila – have confessed to spot-fixing.

ipl-spot-fixing-trio

According to Delhi Police, Sreesanth said, weeping, that his close friend Jiju Janardan coaxed him into doing so.

The first of the three Rajasthan Royals’ players to confess was Chavan. Chandila confessed last. The players were arrested yesterday from Mumbai and now after reaching Delhi, they are under police detention for five days.

Moreover, the police said they would also interrogate Rajasthan Royals co-owner Shilpa Shetty and captain Rahul Dravid on May 21.

The confession has led to the end of the trio, especially the way Sreesanth’s career has concluded must have sent shivers down the spines of many a player.

The eleven bookies police have arrested apart from the trio included a former Rajasthan Royals player. The actual name of Amit Kumar is Amit Singh and he has played 23 IPL matches from 2009 to 2012. Amit, 31, is a fast bowler and represented Gujarat in the last year’s Ranji Trophy.

This shows the deep roots of fixing in the IPL that Test and first-class players have themselves become fixers.

Police investigations show that the players earned Rs40 lakh to Rs60 lakh (Indian) from spot-fixing during the matches held earlier this month.

Three Pakistan cricketers – Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir – were banned for at least five years by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after spot-fixing allegations in England in 2010, apart from facing imprisonments in Britain. Let’s see what India will do with their players.
Read more »

Anonymous at May 17, 2013 0
Indian police have always remained the first to expose match fixers. The police, who played a pivotal role in leading Hansie Cronje’s career to its nadir from its zenith, are now once again in action and have brought into question the credibility of the world’s biggest and the most affluent cricket league. Apart from arresting three Rajasthan Royals’ players, the police also unearthed startling revelations that how the players made certain gestures to alert bookies about the over they should put bet on.

[caption id="attachment_967" align="alignright" width="300"]Commissioner Delhi Police made sensational revelations during his press conference (Photo: AFP) Commissioner Delhi Police made sensational revelations during his press conference (Photo: AFP)[/caption]

After arrests were made by the special cell of Delhi Police in Mumbai, Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar revealed that they have discovered new fixing gestures. Gone are the days when players used to change grip, gloves and comb their hair with their fingers. Now players give maximum time to bookies for betting.

These players who earn hundreds of thousands of dollars are so much greedy for wealth that they are always hungry for more money, for instance, the Rajasthan Royals’ trio – Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila. A special cell of Delhi Police carried out raids in Mumbai early this morning. According to the police, they arrested Sreesanth from Mumbai’s Carter hotel, Chandila from outside Intercontinental hotel and Chavan from Trident hotel. Later in a crowded press conference, commissioner of Delhi Police talked to journalists. Fourteen bookies have also been detained apart from the players.

Police said the cricketers gave away 14 or more runs in certain overs. They did so using special gestures, for example, by putting towel behind trousers, setting fielding, putting out shirt from trousers, putting out locket from shirt, moving wrist watch, looking at the sky, etc. These actions show that the player is going to keep his ‘promise’ in this over. Police said they had wiretapped the conversations between players and bookies which span hours.

According to the police, all the three Rajasthan Royals’ players did spot-fixing in the matches against Pune Warriors, Kings XI Punjab and Mumbai Indians on May 5, 9 and 15, respectively. Chandila alerted bookies in the May 5 match, putting his short out of his trousers. He gave away 14 runs in the over and earned Rs40 lakh (Indian).

Later on May 9, Sreesanth performed the ‘feat’ in Mohali. Sreesanth put towel behind his trousers and exercised for a while, giving maximum time to bookies to put their bets. He also earned Rs40 lakh against 14 runs in an over. Police said Sreesath’s close friend Jiju Janardan was in connection with a bookie Chandresh Patel in this regard.

In the yesterday’s match against Mumbai Indians, spinner Chavan made a gesture for bookies by twisting his wrist band and gave 15 runs to earn Rs60 lakh. Two runs were scored in his first over and he looked so impatient in this over that he gave 14 runs on the first three balls. He managed to give one more run on the next three balls. Police said that although Chandila did not play in the match, he was in close liaison with the fixers.

Let’s see whether the police put a nail in the coffin of players’ future with by proving courts with the evidence. The Indian cricket board has suspended the trio and they may be banned for good if the allegations proved well founded.
Read more »

Anonymous at May 16, 2013 1
Exactly a year after the sensational revelations by an Indian TV channel that rocked the Indian Premier League (IPL), yesterday’s arrests of three Rajasthan Royal players have proved that the reservations about the world’s biggest cricket league are well founded.

[caption id="attachment_937" align="alignright" width="227"]Indian Test player Sreesanth is also among the three players arrested (Photo: Getty Images) Indian Test player Sreesanth is also among the three players arrested (Photo: Getty Images)[/caption]

According to initial reports, cases were registered against Indian international pacer Shanthakumaran Sreesanth and his two Rajasthan Royals teammates Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has suspended the trio until the investigation into the incident has been completed. The players were booked under sections of cheating and criminal conspiracy (420 and 120B) of the Indian Penal Code.

Sreesanth is under the detention of Delhi Police while Chavan and Chandila have been detained in Mumbai and their arrests happened yesterday when the police raided the city’s Trident hotel. In a yesterday’s match against Mumbai Indians, Chavan represented Rajasthan Royals, who lost the match. Police have also arrested seven bookies in this regard.

The Rajasthan Royals’ franchise has issued a statement about the arrests, expressing its surprise about the spot-fixing scandal. Franchise co-owner Shilpa Shetty said she was informed that the players were arrested for investigation into the case. She said the Rajasthan Royals management was in contact with the Indian cricket board and would cooperate with the authorities. Anything which is against the spirit of the game is intolerable to the management, she said.

On the same day last year, Indian spicy news channel ‘India TV’ unearthed a report, airing secret videos of Deccan Chargers’ Prakash Chandra Sudhindra, Kings XI Punjab’s Shalabh Srivastava and Pune Warriors’ Manish Pandey. In the videos, journalists disguising themselves as bookies were shown dealing with the players. Later, two more players – Amit Yadav and Abhinav Bal – were also found guilty in the case and all the players were subsequently banned.

According to Indian newspaper the Times of India, the IPL matches played in Mohali and Mumbai were partly fixed. The accused will be shifted to Delhi on transit remand after today’s appearance at the Mumbai court.

Three international Indian players Mohammad Azharuddin, Ajay Jadeja and Manoj Prabhakar were also banned in the past on fixing allegations.

Emerging of spot-fixing controversy for the second consecutive year is not a good omen for the world’s biggest cricket league. Let’s see whether the accusations will come true or not. The allegations made by India TV through a sting operation last year were proved well founded.
Read more »

Anonymous at January 08, 2013 0
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?
Read more »
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)