Bangalore:
If one thought that match-fixing was a phenomenon restricted to only international cricketing world, then this could just be the shocker. At a time, when the Pakistan Cricket Board is struggling to fight the match-fixing allegations, charges of match-manipulation in the home turf of Karnataka have raised questions over the sanctity of domestic cricket.
'Bangalore Cricketers', one of the oldest clubs of Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) formed in 1946, has complained that certain matches of the Karnataka Division 1 League, played in July 2010, were manipulated so that their team could be pushed down to Division 2.
In a letter addressed to the President of KSCA, committee member Ashok Raghavan said that two teams owned by the same group or persons should be made to play each other in the initial phase itself. This he said, would prevent one team under performing to suit the other one.
"This team felt that their relegation to Division 2 was imminent and it was not out of fair play. More importantly, when they found teams whose recent performance have taken an upsurge and teams who are doing well have plummeted to a considerable degree, they felt that it was more than what meets the eye," said Ashok Raghavan, Managing committee member representing Bangalore Cricketers.
Among the 12 teams that were competing for positions in Division 1, Bangalore Cricketers were in a comfortable position till the final phase. However, they allege that other teams ganged up to keep them out.
"It is a serious allegation of match adjustment, definitely we are looking at it. If anyone is found guilty, we will take strict action against them," B K Ravi, Assistant Secretary, KSCA.
After the big clean up in 2000, it seemed as if the match-fixing issue was sorted out for the moment, but allegations of match manipulations coming up at the very grass root level of domestic cricket raise serious questions of how cricket is played and managed in India.
'Bangalore Cricketers', one of the oldest clubs of Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) formed in 1946, has complained that certain matches of the Karnataka Division 1 League, played in July 2010, were manipulated so that their team could be pushed down to Division 2.
In a letter addressed to the President of KSCA, committee member Ashok Raghavan said that two teams owned by the same group or persons should be made to play each other in the initial phase itself. This he said, would prevent one team under performing to suit the other one.
"This team felt that their relegation to Division 2 was imminent and it was not out of fair play. More importantly, when they found teams whose recent performance have taken an upsurge and teams who are doing well have plummeted to a considerable degree, they felt that it was more than what meets the eye," said Ashok Raghavan, Managing committee member representing Bangalore Cricketers.
Among the 12 teams that were competing for positions in Division 1, Bangalore Cricketers were in a comfortable position till the final phase. However, they allege that other teams ganged up to keep them out.
"It is a serious allegation of match adjustment, definitely we are looking at it. If anyone is found guilty, we will take strict action against them," B K Ravi, Assistant Secretary, KSCA.
After the big clean up in 2000, it seemed as if the match-fixing issue was sorted out for the moment, but allegations of match manipulations coming up at the very grass root level of domestic cricket raise serious questions of how cricket is played and managed in India.
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
