India 2011 World Cup winning team member being probed for possible match-fixing syndicate

According to The Indian Express, this had come to the notice of BCCI’s Anti-Corruption Security Unit (ACSU) last year. The matter is currently being investigated by Rajasthan Police’s CID and sources said that the Rajasthan Police have identified that the mastermind of the “organised cricket racket” who partly supported the RPL has business links with the former international player. This former player has played for India in all three formats of the game.

It is learnt that this former cricketer was seen on the sidelines during the tournament and he was mainly spotted when there were some bizarre and weird phases in the game. For instance, a bowler bowled two huge wides (which went to the boundary and resulted in 5 runs) with 12 runs needed in the last over. These were wides that went way down the leg-side (barely landing on the pitch). Hence, subsequently, the BCCI requested the Rajasthan Police to probe the league. 

Last year in July, 14 people were arrested from four different hotels in Jaipur for suspected betting and fixing activities linked to the RPL. It is through the investigation of these people that the police got to know about the former player. However, these people are currently out on bail but the cash, laptops, mobile phones and walkie-talkies were got back. The case was then transferred to the Rajasthan Police CID in November last year. 

“This is a new methodology bookies and fixers have come up with. They host a private T20 tournament, select a venue and arrange to have it telecast. Because if you telecast it, then the bookie community and betting community gets involved and everyone sitting in a drawing room can bet,” BCCI ACSU’s former chief and current advisor Neeraj Kumar was quoted saying by Indian Express in February.