Karnataka Premier League (KPL) Match-Fixing Case: Ballari Tuskers Players CM Gautam, Abrar Kazi Arrested

The Central Crime Branch of Bengaluru has arrested two more players in connection with the Karnataka Premier League (KPL) match-fixing case. Both players were part of the Ballari Tuskers (also known as Bellary Tuskers) team in the league in 2019 season. Police arrested Bellary team captain CM Gautam and players Abrar Kazi for alleged involvment on spot fixing during KPL matches. Kazi and Gautam are accused of spot fixing during the KPL 2019 .final match between Bellary and Hubli. They were allegedly paid 20 lakh for slow batting and other things. They are accused of fixing another match in KPL 2019 against the Bengaluru side. 

Gautam has played Ranji Trophy for Karnataka. He has also been part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Mumbai Indians (MI) and Delhi Daredevils (DD) sides in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Kazi has played for Karntaka and now plays for Mizoram. 

On Wednesday, Indian Express has reported that another KPL player Nishant Singh Shekhawat, a batsman who has played in multiple editions of the Karnataka Premier League for different teams, was arrested on charges of involvement in fixing matches in KPL 2018. Shekhawat has been accused of helping bookies reach out to players and coaching staff of teams to get them involved in illegal betting.

These arrests come after the arrests of the bowling coach of the Bengaluru Blasters team Vinu Prasad and a batsman M Vishwanathan on account of cheating and conspiracy.

In September, the owner of a Karnataka Premier League team Belagavi Panthers Ashfaq Ali Thara was arrested in connection with an alleged international cricket betting scandal, police said. Police said they had sufficient evidence to suggest that Thara had placed bets on matches with a Dubai based bookie.

The KPL was the first T20 league to be launched by a state association in India. It is organised by the Karnataka State Cricket Association.