KPL: Police arrest domestic cricketers CM Gautam, Abrar Kazi in spot-fixing scandal

The Karnataka Premier League (KPL) match-fixing scandal is getting messier with each passing day. The police has been investigating the case ever since it got the trace of fixing and so far it has made a number of arrests. In the most recent development, the Central Crime Branch Bangalore have arrested two top domestic cricketers — CM Gautam and Abrar Kazi — for their alleged involvement in the scandal.

Both the players plied their trade for Bellary Tuskers in the KPL. Gautam, who shifted his base to Goa from Karnataka this season, led the team. Gautam has also played in the high-profile Indian Premier League. He has represented Royal Challengers Bangalore, Mumbai Indians and Delhi Daredevils. On the other hand, Kazi is also an experienced domestic cricketer and currently plays for Mizoram.

Both of them were also named in their state squads for the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 which begins this week. Both of them are now looking set to be dropped from their respective state teams. According to Sportstar, both Gautam and Kazi received Rs 20 lakhs for batting slowly in the final between Hubli and Bellary. The report claimed that police is likely to arrest even more culprits. The website also claimed that Kazi was with his Mizoram teammates and recently left them to visit Bengaluru.

“We have no clue about the arrest. We are waiting to hear from the police or the association,” a team source said.

Earlier arrests in KPL fixing scandal

CM Gautam and Kazi are not the only individuals who have been arrested for being involved in the match-fixing scandal. Earlier this week, the police had arrested Bengaluru Blasters player Nishant Singh Shekhawat. Shekhawat has been accused of introducing the players and other members of the team to the bookie.

Earlier, the police had also arrested the bowling coach of the Bengaluru Blasters team Vinu Prasad and a batsman M Vishwanathan on account of cheating and conspiracy. According to reports, both Prasad and Vishwanathan were introduced to the bookie by Nishant. In September, the owner of a Karnataka Premier League team Belagavi Panthers Ashfaq Ali Thara was also arrested in connection with an alleged cricket betting scandal.

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