On Sunday, Sourav Ganguly, the president of BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India), has stated that a cricketer was approached by a bookie during the just-concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy, making it clear that spot-fixing remains a threat, not just in-state T20 leagues, even in domestic tournaments run by BCCI when they are live-streamed. It has been learned that a cricketer belonging to the Karnataka side was approached. During the Surat leg of the competition, Ganguly got a phone call after which he promptly reported it to the Board’s ACU (anti-corruption unit).
This incident comes close on heels of scandals during the KPL( Karnataka Premier League) and TNPL (Tamil Nadu Premier League), The two Former Karnataka cricketers CM Gautam, who has also competed in IPL and played for India A, and Abrar Kazi were arrested for their alleged involvement in spot-fixing during KPL.
Suspected bookie call-in national T20 tournament being investigated
“A person, not yet identified, called up and tried to establish contact. The conversation was along the lines of ‘if we can be of any help, let us know’. The number from which the call came in from somewhere in Gujarat and the caller is being chased for more information,” Ganguly told a source in the BCCI ACU.
The anti-corruption unit is now investigating if the caller who approached has had any connection with KPL in the past. The panel has also added him to its person of interest (under scanner) list.
Recently, ACU has taken charge of state leagues like TNPL and KPL, “It is very difficult to stop (state-level) tournaments just because somebody is approached. In some of the states, it has gone to the next level. We are dealing with it and we need to get the anti-corruption system right,” the president of BCCI said.
