IPL spot-fixing: Cops hint that umpires are part of the scam

While the Delhi Police has cleared everyone in the Indian Premier League of their involvement in the spot fixing scandal, the Mumbai Police has hinted that the involvement of an umpire cannot be ruled out just yet. The Mumbai Police has hinted at the involvement of a Pakistani umpire in the IPL spot fixing racket. This umpire reportedly officiated in one of the matches in which the three Rajasthan Royals cricketers arrested by the Delhi Police indulged in spot fixing, the Times of India reported. The police has said they were analysing the activities of the umpire but helpfully added, just in case you wondered who it was, that the umpire was recently in the centre of a controversy over allegations of sexual assault by a model. In case you’re still wondering, the Mumbai Police is hinting at Asad Rauf. The bookies have reportedly told the cops that they and Vindoo were reportedly in touch with the umpire. [caption id=“attachment_804589” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Sreesanth being produced in the Delhi court yesterday. Naresh Sharma/ Firstpost[/caption] Meanwhile, the Delhi Police has said that they have a recorded conversation between Sreesanth and a bookie in which the fast bowler reportedly blamed the umpire for not being able to successfully spot-fix an over. Explaining why he was unable to give the required number of runs in an over, a Times of India report quotes Sreesanth as telling the bookie:

“Bhai maine to last ball mein no ball bhi kiya. But umpire ne notice nahin kiya to meri kya galti hai?” (Brother, I bowled a no-ball at the end of my over. How is it my fault if the umpire didn’t notice.")

While the Delhi police hasn’t hinted at the involvement of an umpire in the spot fixing racket, they have sought all footage of the match between Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab on 9 May, the report stated. While there have been no umpires arrested in any match fixing scandals so far, it isn’t unusual to hear of umpires being paid off in other sports like football, where illegal betting syndicates have often gone after the referee. However, with their evidence against the cricketers rather shaky and reliant of transcripts of conversations between them and bookies, the reports linking the umpires to the scandal are still rather speculative.