Cricket : Money Business, gambling by bookies and ‘match fixing’ !

Magh Krushna Dashami, Kaliyug Varsha 5112

Read Here : Cricket is a sport which is detrimental for the Nation

Cricket is, today known as a sport which generates countless money and is immensely popular. This is because businessmen have now entered cricket. That is why cricket has no longer remained a sport but has become a business. With the advent of business, unwanted tendencies of match-fixing and betting have become a part and parcel of cricket. A systematic network has been established which takes care of fixing the result of a match between two teams, betting business of several thousands of rupees and involving cricketers into the network and thereby making profits of several crores of rupees. Several reputed cricketers and known organizers of the game are being slowly lured into this network due to their greed for money. News related to betting and match-fixing first emerged during the tournament held in Sharjah (UAE) during the period ranging from 1990 to 1995. Now this has become public. In short a take on cricket’s money oriented business on the background of this World Cup tournament….

4 A 1. Do Cricketers play for their country or for money ?

‘Cricket is no longer played for the country; instead it is played for oneself, one’s popularity and for the sake of money. The game of cricket gives a lot of money. In short, there is no meaning to the huge popularity given to cricketers because they belong to a caste which is ready to sell their commitment for the sake of money. For the sake of money these cricketers will not hesitate to sell the honour of their country.’ – Sanjay Uvach (Monthly Dhanurdhari, April 2009)

4 A 2. Famous former cricketer criticizes cricket saying it has become a business

The number of cricket tournaments has incredibly increased; this is because we have accepted cricket as a business and business means business. Profits will receive prime importance in any business ! There are no principles in business, hence idealism has no place there. The schedule of cricket tournaments and series has become so crowded that no one even has the time to breathe. Players no longer have the luxury of deciding how much they will play. As cricket has become a business cricketers keep on playing cricket. – Bapu Nadkarni, famous former Indian spinner. (Daily Lok Satta, 18.9.1999)

4 A 3. Cricketers who have become millionaires due to cricket !

No Indian cricketer own property less than 10 crores of rupees, a spy disclosed on the condition of anonymity. Central Bureau of Investigation, which is investigating the properties of cricket players, has said that a former captain from North India has property worth 200 crores. No enquiries have been made of their overseas property and investments. Some players have properties in England, Mauritius and Simon Islands. The knowledge we have is probably just the tip of an iceberg, one official from Central Bureau of Investigation said. Even on the day of the cricket match some cricketers talk to betting agents on their mobiles. Some players have said that they are afraid to cooperate with the investigation bureau as they fear for their lives. (Daily Goa Times, 14 May 1999)

4 B 1. Cricket is no longer a sport; it has now become a gamble. It has become a means to earn money and popularity. (Sanskruti Darshan : Vaidya Suvinay Damle, Atharva Plaza, Kudal, Sindhudurg District.)

4 B 2. Betting in cricket has resulted in cricket getting the look of a gamble

‘On the background of the 2011 Cricket World Cup, betting agents have come with a modern technique to escape the police enquiry. For the Cricket World Cup games betting agents for the first time are using ‘IVR’ (Interactive Voice Response’ system for betting purposes. This system has features such as ‘Voice Recording’ and receiving multiple ‘calls’ at the same time. The betting agents were getting caught after their calls using mobile phones were traced back to them. To protect themselves from this danger they have decided to connect every telephone through the IVR system and at the same time the bets can be placed from many places. Gujarat, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Mumbai are the main places from where these betting games are going to be played. In this way cricket has got the look of a gambling game.’ Recently 4 people were arrested at Nasik placing bets of the Cricket World Cup tournament and one at Mumbai and mobile phones, laptops, TV sets, etc., have been collected from them. (Daily Sanatan Prabhat, Magh Poornima, Kaliyug Varsha 5112 (18.2.2011)

4 B 3. Betting Rates for the current World Cup 2011 !

According to one news, the total amount of money used in placing bets has crossed 70 thousand crores of rupees.

A. According to the betting agents, since India has the maximum chance to win, they have given a rate of 3 rupees against every rupee for the Indian team. Next Srilanka 4/1, Australia 5/1, South Africa 6/1, Pakistan 8/1, Windies 18/1, Bangladesh 30/1, Zimbabwe 175/1, Ireland 500/1, Netherlands 700/1, Canada 1000/1 and Kenya 1000/1 are the other odds offered.
B. The betting agents have placed Sachin Tendulkar at the top position among batsmen who will score maximum runs in this World Cup. Bets placed on him have crossed the limit of 2000 crores of rupees.
C. Some betting agents estimate that every match in the qualifying stages involving major teams will attract 200-400 crores of rupees in bets.
(Daily Tarun Bharat, 21.2.2011)

4 B 4.  Business of running bets even on matches involving weaker teams !

Bookies did not have a lot of expectations from the matches in the 2011 World Cup involving major teams and a weaker team. Even then bets worth several crores have been placed on these matches. When the winning team has favourable odds, the deep-rooted better place bets on the opposite team and this then benefits bookies involved in ‘match fixing’. A number of betters believe in miracles, hence they place bets on weaker teams; this is because they can earn lakhs of rupees in a instant. – Nishad Andheriwala (Daily Lok Satta, 21.2.2011)

4 B 5. Criminal world engaged in betting !

4 B 5 A. In 2006, news about Tarannum, a bar dancer (barbala), making property worth crores of rupees after developing contacts with the criminal world and cricket bookies, was published. –  Mr. Sanjay Digambar Mulye, Ratnagiri (6.1.2007)
4 B 5 B. Criminal world’s Dawood Ibrahim involved in betting !
Dawood Ibrahim is the manager of betting in cricket – this accusation has been made by ‘Observer’, a British newspaper. According to ‘Observer’, Dawood has close relations with a lot of top politicians in the world and cricketers. Hence cricket matches are no longer a sporting event but are major business generating events. (Daily Goa Times, 7.10.1999)

4 B 6. Betting decides which team ‘wins or loses’ a cricket match, this is pre-decided and hence ‘match fixing’ takes place ! :

Corruption which has invaded every spectre has also enveloped cricket and cricket fans no longer get real pleasure in watching a cricket match. Since cricket runs on ‘betting’ rather than ‘batting’ these days, who wins or loses the match is known beforehand.  – Dilip Girdhar, Andheri, Mumbai (Daily Maharashtra Times, 20.2.2011)

Few years back cricket matches used to be played in such a manner as to ensure that a pre-decided result materialises, this means ‘match fixing’ used to be carried out. For a long time this mischievous behaviour of the cricketers did not come to the attention of cricket lovers and organizers alike. Cricket lovers who spent money out of their pockets to watch their favourite cricketers and teams did not realise for a long time that they are being cheated. At the beginning of the last decade cricket was eclipsed by ‘match fixing’. This resulted in cricket getting stained. The cricket’s purity and trust worthiness took a severe beating. ‘Match-Fixing’ was shameful for cricket. Now ‘spot fixing’ started gaining importance. Appreciating a boundary scored or a six hit of a particular delivery or the encouraging the bowler when he clean bowls a batsman, – now suspicion arose whether this was decided by ‘spot-fixing’. Results of matches not decided till the last ball, whether the match which raises your curiosity was a natural game or whether the result of this match was also pre-decided – this suspicious environment is created by ‘spot-fixing’. Purity of the sport, its adventure and trust have all been subjected to suspicion. As a result instead of ‘match-fixing’, the new ‘spot-fixing’ is more dishonest, is bringing disquietude to cricket and cricket has lost its virtue. (Daily Gomantak 7.2.2011)

4 C 1. Confessions of players from various countries – this is proof of ‘match fixing’ !

4 C 1 A. Not only test matches played in India, even club cricket matches and Ranji trophy matches are pre-decided – Self confession given by Arun Lal, a former Indian test cricket player ! : Test cricket matches are pre-decided and then played. This is not something new and in India even in club cricket and Ranji trophy matches this is prevalent – said Arun Lal, a former test player. He further said that in the local club cricket tournament in Kolkata a number of times a particular club knowingly looses matches. In 1992-93 this incident occurred and some cricketers were banned from playing cricket. (Daily Goa Times, 14.5.1999)

4 C 1 B. Acceptance by South African Captain Hansi Cronje ! : Hansi Cronje, former captain of South Africa accepted that he was accepting money from a bookie since 1996. (Daily Lok Satta, 27.6.2000)

4 C 1 C. Acceptance of match fixing by Imran Khan, former Pakistan Captain, while talking to B.B.C. –Television channel ! : Pakistan’s famous cricketer, Imran Khan gave a clear statement that cricket matches are pre-fixed and then played. Since he made this statement while talking to B.B.C, considered as the world’s most trustworthy news channel, no one has any doubt that betting does take place in cricket matches. (Daily Gomantak, 25.10.1999)

4 C 1 D. Self confession of Australian cricketers on accepting money from an Indian bookie ! : During the Pakistan tour we had taken money from an Indian bookie to provide information regarding the pitch and climatic conditions – this self-confession was made by Australian cricketers Mark Waugh and Shane Warne at a crowded press conference. (Daily Maharashtra Times, 10.12.1999)

4 C 1 E. Chris Lewis, an England cricketer, says Aushim Khetrapal, an Indian, offered him money for ‘match fixing’ : A test series was played between England and New Zealand in September 1999. England’s all-round player Chris Lewis made an accusation saying, ‘Aushim Khetrapal, a games organiser from Delhi has offered me 2 crore, 10 lakh rupees for deciding the results of the matches before they are played.’ British Secret Agents had come to India to interrogate Aushim Khetrapal. (Daily Goa Times, 8.10.1999)

4 C 1 F.  New Zealand-England Test was fixed says New Zealand cricketer Chris Lewis ! : An accusation was made that the third test match in the New Zealand-England Test Series was fixed. Supporting this accusation, New Zealand cricketer Chris Lewis said, “I was offered 30 lakh dollars by a man to be a part of this racket, but I flatly refused his offer”. – Prasad Potdar (Daily Goa Times, 21.10.1999)

4 D 2. ‘Pakistan cricketers are at the fore-front of ‘match fixing’ !

Pakistan cricketers have been accused of corruption and of being involved in ‘match fixing’ for a number of years. (Daily Lok Satta, 27.6.2000)

4 D 2 A. Pakistan’s former Captain Salim Malik and all-rounder Ata-Ur-Rehman : Based on the report of the judicial enquiry in May 2000, a decision to ban Pakistan’s former Captain Salim Malik and all-rounder Ata-Ur-Rehman for life from playing cricket was taken by the Pakistan Cricket Board. (Daily Lok Satta 27.6.2000)

4 D 2 B. Pakistan’s cricketer accepts that the final match between India and Pakistan in the ‘Australasia Cup’ held at Sharjah in 1994 was fixed ! :  ‘The final match between India and Pakistan in the ‘Australasia Cup’ held at Sharjah in 1994 was fixed after accepting money and I was involved in it.’ This sensational disclosure was made by Pakistan’s middle order batsman Basat Ali before the judicial court. In the memorandum submitted by him, he says that he was assured of a position in the team if he becomes a part of the team involved in accepting money to fix the match. If anyone tries to blame him then he would not hesitate to disclose what he did, based on the instructions of the Pakistan team Captain and Manager. (Daily Goa Times, 13.10.1999)

4 D 2 C. Six Pakistan players accused of fixing the final match of the Australasia Cup at Sharjah ! : Under the captaincy of Salim Malik, Pakistan team won the final between India & Pakistan of the Australasia Cup by 39 runs by fixing the match. In this relation Salim Malik, Wasim Akram, Ijaz Ahmed, Mustaq Ahmed, Waqar Younis and Basat Ali were accused of being involved in match fixing. (Goa Times, 13.10.1999)

4 D 2 D. Wasim Akram was suspended from playing cricket in relation to match fixing of the final of the 1999 Cricket World Cup : There was lot of talk about the 1999 Cricket World Cup final between Pakistan and Australia was fixed. In this relation renowned player like Wasim Akram had to undergo a suspension when he was found guilty in the initial enquiries in the match fixing case. Prasad Potdar (Goa Times, 21.10.1999)

4 D 2 E. Pakistan’s Captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammed Asif and Mohammed Ameer banned from playing cricket ! : Pakistan’s bowlers Mohammed Asif and Mohammad Ameer along with their Captain Salman Butt were found guilty of being involved in spot-fixing by bowling ‘no balls’ intentionally in the test match against England at Lords in August 2010. After getting first-hand evidence against them, the I.C.C. on 5.2.2011 decided to ban the three from playing cricket. (Daily Gomantak 7.2.2011)

4 D 2 F: Condemnable behaviour of Pakistan players to ensure the defeat of their team for their greed of money ! : ‘Pakistan players play cricket as per the instructions of the bookies for satisfying their greed of money and if they get money in this manner they will also play to defeat their own team, as this has been proved, their condemnable behaviour has become a subject of debate in the world of sport.’ Mr. Arvind Vitthal Kulkarni, Senior Journalist, Mumbai. (Daily ‘Sanatan Prabhat’, Shravan Krushna Ashtami, Kaliyug Varsha 5112 (2.9.2010))

4 D 2 G. ‘Pakistan cricketers fall prey to money, women and good food more easily than other cricketers. This experience was narrated by many cricketers from other countries ! – Mr. Arvind Vitthal Kulkarni, Senior Journalist, Mumbai. (Daily ‘Sanatan Prabhat’, Shravan Krushna Ashtami, Kaliyug Varsha 5112 (2.9.2010))

4 D 2 H. Help taken of Private detectives by Pakistan to keep a constant watch on players accused of corruption ! : As per news published in Pakistan’s daily ‘Dawn’, Pakistan is going to take the help of private detectives to keep a watch on cricketers accused of corruption during cricket matches in Pakistan and abroad. These detectives are going to follow the cricketers as shadows and by staying in the same hotel are going keep a constant watch on them. They are going to keep a constant watch on where the cricketers go, whom they meet and when do they return back to the hotel. (Daily Lok Satta, 27.6.2000)

4 D 3. Match Fixing by Indian Player

4 D 3 A.  Former Indian Captain Azharuddin and Ajay Jadeja were found to be involved in the fraud of match fixing. They have been banned from cricket for life. (Daily Gomantak, 7.2.2011)

4 D 3 B. Six Pakistan players were punished for their involvement in the match fixing of the Australasia Cup final between India and Pakistan at Sharjah in 1994; but Azharuddin who dropped important catches to ensure defeat of India went unpunished for 6 years ! – Chetan Rajhans, Nagpur

4 D 3 C. Meaningless outburst by Azharuddin demonstrating his Muslim psyche and stating that injustice was done to him in the matter related to match fixing as he was a Muslim ! : ‘Azharuddin was involved in match fixing a one day international match. That means he intentionally ensured that India lost the match and took money to do this – this accusation was made on him. A proper enquiry was conducted and he was banned for life from playing cricket for India. Azharuddin claims to be innocent. Since the ban on him has not been revoked he is not innocent as he claims. But when he was banned the statements which he made showed his Muslim psych. “This injustice is being done to me as I am a Muslim”, he said at that time and suspected all Hindus who supported him, their honesty and their prudence. This means that being a Muslim his crime should have been forgiven by Hindus and he should have been exempted from punishment! – Mr. Arvind Vitthal Kulkarni, Senior journalist, Mumbai. (Weekly Sanatan Prabhat, 2009, Issue No. 30)

4 D 3 D. Encouragement of match fixer Azharuddin is betrayal of the country by the Congress ! : ‘The Board of Control for Cricket in India had imposed a life ban on cricket on former Captain of the Indian Cricket team, Azharuddin, for his involvement in match fixing.  The Congress party fielded such an anti-nationalist corrupt person who is a ‘Hyderabadi’ as its candidate for the Lok Sabha election from the Muslim dominated Moradabad constituency in Uttar Pradesh and ensured him of his victory. When he was given the ticket to contest for a seat in the Parliament from Moradabad, Congress Party gave an idea of how much appeasement of Muslims is done by them and turned a blind eye to his anti-national activities. This was the anti-national crime committed by Congress. – Chetan Rajhans, Nagpur (24.2.2011)

4 D 4. Every cricketer is looked at with suspicion – this is the gift of ‘match fixing’ !

These days every cricket team is accused of being involved in match fixing. The losing team has to face these accusations from their supporters. So much of suspicious climate has been created by these match-fixing incidents. If a renowned cricketer from a team does not perform as expected then this suspicion turns into proof. – Prasad Potdar (Goa Times, 21.10.1999)

4 D 5. ‘Match fixing’ is an anti-national crime and life time imprisonment is the correct punishment !

If any cricketer is involved in match fixing then he must be given the strictest punishment so that others can learn from this. All the property of such cricketers must be confiscated and they must be imprisoned for life. This is the correct punishment because they have not only committed an anti-national crime but they have also misled thousands of cricket fans. – Prasad Potdar (Goa Times, 21.10.1999)

4 D 6. An appeal to the players ! – Keep away from Match Fixing by remembering the national respect of fellow countrymen !
Cricket’s image is stained by the betting activities such as match and spot fixing. While playing will players remember the national pride and respect of fellow countrymen and keep away from activities of match fixing ? – Vivek Tavte, Kalwa, Thane (Maharashtra Times, 20.2.2011)