BCCI ACSU rejects any approach made to players in Kanpur

The head of the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU), Neeraj Kumar clarified on Friday that there is no evidence which proves that Indian Premier League (IPL) players were approached by the three men in Kanpur who got arrested recently for being a part of an illegal betting syndicate.

The three men who were involved actively in the illegal betting syndicate told police that they had approached the players in the past to fix the match. But Kumar, who was once the Police Commissioner of Delhi, stated their claim as false. He said that there is no clear evidence which proves otherwise.

Police arrested three men on Thursday who were staying in Hotel Landmark in Kanpur. Hotel Landmark is a lavish hotel in Kanpur and many teams who visit Kanpur opt to stay there. Sources reveal that the three men at first booked rooms in the Hotel then, they shifted their rooms closer to the rooms of the players, so as to communicate with them. But this is not the first time Hotel Landmark came into limelight for all wrong reasons.

The previous story

Mohammed Azharuddin, the former ‘infamous’ Indian national team captain, allegedly introduced bookie Mukesh Kumar Gupta, alias MK, to the late former Proteas’ captain Hansie Cronje. It was in the year 1996 when the South African team was touring India, and at that very moment was in Kanpur to play the third Test match of the series. Then, the hotel involved was Hotel Landmark. This information was released by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)’s report on corruption in cricket in 2000.

A local police officer revealed that the mode of operation of the bookies has changed considerably over the years, as they now have become tech-saavy. Speaking to the Hindustan Times, he said: “The modus operandi has changed as bookies now operate through Instagram, Whatsapp and other social media sites to stay in touch with people concerned, but attempts at fixing game remain unchanged even today.”

Even though police did not believe any approach has been made to the player, but Gujarat Lions’ players met some unknown people before their match against Delhi Daredevils. In that match, the home team lost even after posting a par total of 195 on the board, owing to superb knock from Shreyas Iyer of DD. The police officers would enquire the players regarding the issue, to cross-examine whether any foul play was involved or not which lead to the loss.

However, it is understood that it is not easy for the officials too to keep a track on each and every player. In a tournament like IPL, teams have to travel a lot and meet their fans. They also shoot many promotional videos and attend sponsor events. Hence, the officials are having a tough time to keep a check on every player’s activity.