More skeletons in closet?
While the Delhi Police is investigating whether spot-fixing took place in Indian Premier League matches other than the three matches in which three of its players were allegedly involved, it is reliably learnt that there are two more matches under the scanner of the investigating officers.
According to sources, the information about spot-fixing taking place in the on-going IPL was communicated to the ICC by Edward Hawkins, a British betting expert who had earlier alleged that the 2011 World Cup semi-final between India-Pakistan was fixed.
Police alleged Sreesanth had promised bookies that he would concede at least 14 runs in his second over against Kings XI Punjab on May 9 in exchange for `40 lakh (US$73,024). The police alleged that Sreesanth made the appropriate signal, which was to ask for a towel that he would tuck inside his trousers before bowling the over.
Hawkins says only a “professional bowler” can deliver his promise. “Bowler can pretty much do what he wants and ensure certain number of runs being leaked in his over. Cricket is believed to be a batsman’s game, but a bowler can give away freebees and extras,” the expert added.
Atul Kumar, who revealed the fixing saga in his book Inside the Boundary Line, had a meeting with ICC’s Anti-Corruption head, Y.P.Singh, a few weeks ago. Atul said Singh showed no enthusiasm in discussing the current betting trend in India.
“The meeting took place in ITC Maurya, Delhi. He (Y.P.Singh) told me that he knew everything about betting and appeared to feel happy that there was no proof about existence of session betting. It was like a police officer knowing about prostitution continuing in the neighbourhood, but feeling comfortable that no one was complaining. He was not at all keen to learn or know anything from a lesser mortal like me,” Atul added.
PTI adds: Police sources said so far concrete evidence has emerged only in three matches on May 5, 9 and 15 and three players were arrested, besides 11 bookies.
A senior police official said telephone conversations have indications about spot-fixing in other matches but the investigators have not been able to concretely prove that as of now.
“We are collecting evidence,” the official said, adding role of other players have not come to light. He said, however, the police are not ruling out any possibility as of now as investigations are still on. The sources said the players were embarrassed and were not opening up initially while bookies were talking.
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