Sordid saga of match fixing comes to haunt cricket again, Bollywood actress used as ‘honeytrap’: Reports

The sordid saga of match fixing came to haunt cricket again as the Sunday Times, London, carried out a sting operation on a Delhi-based bookie who claimed last year’s World Cup semifinal between India and Pakistan at Mohali was rigged.

The man, identified as Vicky Seth and described as “one of Delhi’s most influential bookmakers”, made a slew of “revelations” during a drinking session with an undercover Sunday Times reporter, who videotaped the conversation. The reporter had in 2010 exposed three Pakistani cricketers, who were later convicted, for indulging in “spot-fixing”, in the News of the World newspaper, says a report in The Times Of India.

India had won the semifinal match in which the number of catches dropped by the Pakistan team had become a talking point. However, the International Cricket Council denied to TOI that it was launching an inquiry into these claims although it could not be ruled out that there was an ongoing probe into some of the issues raised by the bookie.

The report quoted Seth as saying a Bollywood actress, who was not named, was used by bookies as a honeytrap to tempt county cricketers into corruption. The report asserted: “The ICC is aware of the activities of an actress, suspected of attempting to subvert players.” The ICC declined comment, reads the newspaper report.

Meanwhile quoting the London newspaper, a report in Hindustan Times says that four players have reported the Bollywood honeytrap. The paper carried a picture of the actor, with the face blurred. Wearing a green sequin bikini, she strikes a pose that could have come straight out of a Bollywood item number. “Attractive girls are the ideal choice to cosy up to players and to persuade them to work for bookmakers,“ an unnamed bookie was quoted saying.

In the front-page article -English cricket in bung scandal -the newspapers said tens of thousands of pounds were being offered to players to throw part or all of international matches, including last year's World Cup semi-final between India and Pakistan, says the report in HT, however adding that there were no details to back up the charge.

Newspaper reports further adds that batsmen were being offered typically £44,000 (R35 lakh) for slow scoring, £50,000 (R40 lakh) for bowlers who concede runs and as much as £750,000 (R6 crore) to players or officials who can guarantee the outcome of a match.