Also finds circumstantial evidence of match-fixing
KATHMANDU, JANUARY 22
The Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police confirmed spot-fixing in the NepalT20 Cricket League and said they found circumstantial evidence of match-fixing.
The inaugural edition of the maiden premier league organised by the Cricket Association of Nepal was held from December 9 to 27 at Tribhuvan University Stadium.
The CAN had roped in Indian company Seven- 3Sports as strategic and commercial partner for the tournament.
The tournament got postponed thrice after the CAN and Seven3Sports failed to meet deadlines and the ill-fated event came under scrutiny from the beginning.
It began with the work permit for foreign players and ended with investigation of spot-fixing and match-fixing from the CIB. At one point, cricketers refused to play after franchise teams did not provide them salary. Teams played only after the CAN took the responsibility of players' salaries.
CIB Spokesperson, Superintendent of Police Kamal Thapa, said the probe committee's report was almost ready and the investigating team found "financial transactions that would link to possible match-fixing." SP Thapa added, "CIB found multiple instances of spot-fixing in the tournament.
Some links and attempts were also identified that would lead CIB to conclude that match-fixing had either happened or was going to happen." He said detailed information on the case would come to light only after the report was finalised.
The issue came to light after one of the commentators of the tournament Sachin Timalsina quit, accusing organisers of turning a deaf ear to multiple reports of controversial moments, while Kathmandu Knights skipper Gyanendra Malla said one of his team members was approached for spot-fixing and his team reported the case to Anti-Corruption Unit. According to a source close to ACU, more than 10 incidents of spot-fixing approaches were reported before the playoffs.
After reports of irregularities were published in media and players' protest over payment issues surfaced, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane instructed Police Headquarters to investigate the matter and Nepal Police forwarded the case to CIB, which formed a six-member probe committee headed by Deputy Superintendent of Police Sundar Tiwari.
The National Sports Council also formed a five-member committee led by Executive Committee Member Ekendra Kunwar and the team is preparing to submit the report in a couple of days.
The NSC-formed team also found irregularities in the tournament.
A version of this article appears in the print on January 23, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
