KPL fixing scandal: Cricketers CM Gautam and Abrar Kazi arrested
Karnataka cricketers CM Gautam and Abrar Kazi have been arrested by the Central Crime Branch Bengaluru for their alleged role in the Karnataka Premier League fixing scandal. According to a report in ANI, the duo was allegedly paid a sum of Rs. 20 lakh to bat slowly in the final against Hubli. They also fixed another match in the league. Here is more.
Key information regarding Gautam and Kazi
Gautam and Kazi represented the Bellary Tuskers in the league. Gautam captained the team. The two cricketers had shifted to Goa and Mizoram earlier in the domestic season respectively. They were also named in the state squads for the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20, which begins on Friday. The twin arrests happened after another player Nishant Singh Shekhawat was arrested, earlier this week.
Shekhawat was accused of helping bookies
Meanwhile, Shekhawat was accused of helping bookies connect with other players and coaching staff to get them involved in illegal betting. Earlier, the bowling coach of the Bengaluru Blasters team Vinu Prasad and a batsman M Viswanathan were arrested on account of cheating and conspiracy.
A glance at Gautam's career graph
Gautam, who earlier played for India A, plied his trade in the IPL for Royal Challengers Bangalore, Mumbai Indians and Delhi Daredevils. He has played 94 First-Class matches and scored 4,716 runs at 41.4 with 10 hundreds and 24 fifties. He was an integral part of the Karnataka side that won the domestic treble two years in a row in 2013-14 and 2014-15.
KPL match-fixing: Gautam is by far the most prolific name
Gautam is by far the most prolific name to emerge in the KPL fixing scandal, which broke in September. He was a long-term deputy of Vinay Kumar, and stood in for him in three matches in 2013. He captained a team with the likes of Robin Uthappa, KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, and Manish Pandey. It's a shock to see him be involved in match-fixing.
Bengaluru Blasters batsman, bowling coach were arrested in October
In October 2019, a couple of arrests were made by Karnataka Police's Central Crime Branch (CCB), involving Bengaluru Blasters. "Another match-fixing case has been traced by CCB in the KPL. (We have) arrested Bengaluru Blasters team bowling coach Vinu Prasad and Bangalore batsman M Viswanathan," said Bengaluru's Joint Commissioner of Police (crime), Sandeep Patil, following the arrests.
Belagavi Panthers owner was also arrested following alleged involvement
Meanwhile, TNIE further reports that the owner of Belagavi Panthers, Ali Asfak Thara, was arrested in September end following his alleged involvement. Among bookies, while Bafna has been arrested, another Delhi-based bookie Sayyam is absconding for now. "The number of arrests, which includes players, will go up. We are gathering clinching evidence before making more arrests," the official concluded.
Karnataka Police have sufficient evidence to prove Thara guilty
"The team owner was found to be indulging in betting during the matches. We have sufficient evidence to show that he was betting," joint commissioner of police (crime) Sandeep Patil was quoted as saying to ESPNCricinfo.
