Former Karnataka players CM Gautam and Abrar Kazi have been arrested by the Central Crime Branch of Bangalore in what comes as a further setback for the beleaguered Karnataka Premier League. Gautam, the wicketkeeper-batsman who shifted to Goa and Kazi, who’s now part of the Mizoram setup, have been accused of spot-fixing during the final of the KPL between Bellary Tuskers and Hubli Tigers.
Gautam and Kazi, both part of the Tuskers team of which the former was the skipper, were allegedly paid INR 20 Lakhs for batting in a slow manner in the game against the Tigers. Chasing 153, Tuskers ended up with 144 – opener Gautam scored a 37-ball 29 while Kazi struck 13 off six deliveries. The two players were also said to have been involved in fixing another match against Bengaluru Blasters.
The arrest of these two cricketers increases the tally of players’ arrest to four, with Nishant Singh Shekhawat and M Viswanathan being the ones arrested earlier, along with Bengaluru Blasters bowling coach Vinu Prasad. Ali Asfak Thara – the owner of Belgavi Panthers – was also arrested last month and the team was handed a suspension thereafter. Bhavesh Bafna, a drummer who plays during Royal Challengers Bangalore’s IPL fixtures, was also taken into custody for his involvement in fixing.
