For some time now, there has been talk of a nexus between theunderworld, the bookies and some cricketers which has been at thecentre of the match fixing scandal
Partab Ramchand18-Jun-2001For some time now, there has been talk of a nexus between theunderworld, the bookies and some cricketers which has been at thecentre of the match fixing scandal. Even the Condon report mentionedit and added that because of this nexus, cricketers were living in anatmosphere of fear and uncertainty and were not easily forthcomingwith information.Now, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), probing the nexus, hasindicated that Dubai and Pakistan based underworld gangs were runningdedicated groups of operators to concentrate on the `lucrativebusiness’ of betting and match-fixing in international cricket. TheCBI began probing the nexus between bookies and the underworld mafiato find out how deep the criminal section has penetrated into thegame.Information about the formation of such groups emerged as part ofvital clues collected by the CBI on the modus operandi of theunderworld with regard to the murky dealings in cricket. The CBI hasbeen working towards exposing the underworld’s involvement in cricketever since it became apparent.CBI sources recently said that the investigation into the matter,which started soon after the submission of its report on betting andmatch-fixing in Indian cricket in November last year, was progressingat a good pace and they had gathered many vital clues about the case.According to indications, the gangs were closer to cricketers,administrators and officials in the Indian sub-continent. The CBI hasalso collected a lot of information about the alleged role of a numberof cricketers, administrators and officials in the murky business.While the agency has so far refused to reveal details as, according tothem, it might hamper investigations, it has confirmed that they haveinformation about their close links with the underworld operators andwould question them at an opportune time.The country’s premier investigating agency is also considering takingactive help from the Delhi Police and the Mumbai Police to get to thebottom of the way the underworld operated. The CBI has alreadycontacted a number of countries, including the United Arab Emirates,Dubai and Singapore and sought help in providing inputs about thepossible role of the underworld in tournaments held there.The CBI decided to probe the matter in the wake of reports of risinginterest of the underworld in cricket in India. Even though the nexushad been unearthed during the CBI’s probe into the match-fixingscandal, the dimensions at that time were yet to be fully established.But now the probe into this nexus and its bearing on national securityis being conducted vigorously both within India and abroad.The agency had, in its report on match-fixing released in Novemberlast year, warned that if concrete steps were not taken immediately,the underworld could take overall control of the betting racket.Negligence of the police and other authorities in allowing "wageringto turn into an organised racket, particularly with the involvement ofthe underworld mafia", was cited by the CBI as reason for the growthof the mafia’s dealings within the game.The possible implication of the underworld in betting in Indiancricket is seen in the statements of former Indian captain MdAzharuddin and the Indian team’s former physio Ali Irani who hadindicated the involvement of mafia dons.In the testimonies of Azharuddin and Irani, the names of mafia donsAnees Ibrahim, Abu Salem and Sharad Shetty have found mention. The CBIreport said Azhar during his questioning had stated that “Abu Salemhad rung him up on a couple of occasions to fix matches but he hadrefused.”According to the CBI, the fact that a “few bookies” had links with theunderworld has been fairly established during the initialinvestigation. The CBI now seems to be casting its net far and wide toget to the bottom of the nexus between the underworld, bookies,cricketers and the game’s administrators.It is a disturbing thought that more than a year after the matchfixing scandal broke, and several probes have been conducted, theevidence gathered could well be in the words of Sir Paul Condon, "thetip of the iceberg." Former England captain Ian Botham has alsospoken in much the same terms and has now even expressed the fear thatsomeone within the game could be killed. He is of the view thatplayers caught in the scandal were afraid to blow the whistle on thoseseemingly responsible for offering money to under perform for fear ofviolent reprisals, again something that Condon hinted in his report.Clearly the fight against match fixing is far from over despite allthe efforts put in so far.