India woman cricketer approached by bookies for match-fixing: Details here
The BCCI Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) has lodged a complaint at the Ashok Nagar Police Station in Bengaluru after two alleged bookies approached a cricketer for the women's national team to fix matches. The alleged incident took place in February 2019. Two individuals, Rakesh Bafna and Jitendra Kothari have been accused. Here are further details on the incident.
As per the FIR filed by the BCCI ACU, one of the top members of the Indian women's cricket team was approached by Bafna, who had offered a lump sum, in case she agreed to join them and perform as said. The incident reportedly happened prior to the limited-overs series against England in February, which was also a part of the ICC World Championships.
"The FIR pertains to an approach that was made to one of the women cricketers of the team. She reported the approach to us and even recorded the conversation she had with one of the accused over the telephone," BCCI ACU chief quoted to Sportstar.
Ajit also said that it was Kothari, who first got in touch with the player and sold himself as the manager of other women cricketers, while he also introduced Bafna to her. While he also asked her to fix matches, Bafna made an offer of Rs. 1 lakh per match to the player, asides requesting her to rope in the ODI captain as well.
Ajit further said that Bafna initially approached her through Whatsapp with an endorsement for a clothing brand. However, it was thereafter he tried to influence her to fix matches. Upon realizing that things were fishy, she recorded a telephonic conversation with him and reported the issue to the BCCI ACU. Meanwhile, ICC too investigated the matter, since it happened during an international series.
"Bafna took advantage of Kothari's ineptitude, and the player had rightly made a report of the approachment. Bafna was warned for his action and was reported to the BCCI and ICC," said ICC in an observation following the investigation of the issue.
Meanwhile, the BCCI ACU lauded the bravery of the young cricketer to immediately approach and report the matter to them. However, they also warned other women cricketers to be careful of such untoward incidents in the future and report it immediately. "If a match is telecast, that helps them in betting and that's why they indulge in spot-fixing," Ajit concluded.
The Tamil Nadu Premier League, a franchise-based T20 league of the state of Tamil Nadu, is also under the scanner of the BCCI of late, following reports of certain players being contacted by bookies. The issue has taken center stage due to alleged involvement of an Indian player, an IPL regular, along with a coach of a Ranji team, as the ACU is investigating.
