Bengaluru: Central Crime Branch (CCB) sleuths on Saturday summoned four cricketers, who played in the recently concluded Karnataka Premier League (KPL) tournament, for questioning in a suspected betting and match-fixing case.
The CCB sleuths had earlier quizzed Ali Asfak Thara, owner of Belagavi Panthers.
Sources said that the players, whose names and the franchisees they represent have been withheld, were in touch with Ali. At least two players were from a different KPL franchisee, they said.
While the police claimed that they have evidence that Ali was in constant touch with the players from other teams even during matches that his team was playing, the role of the players is yet to be ascertained.
“The inquiry is still at its initial stages and a detailed investigation is required. We will seek the assistance of Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) and the anti-corruption unit of the BCCI too,” Bengaluru Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Sandeep Patil said.
“The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) will assist the police and cooperate with them fully in the matter,” a KSCA official said. Belagavi Panthers was eliminated in the qualifier to finish third in the KPL 2019. They had won the T20 title in 2017 and had finished runners-up twice.
