Modi Says Spot-fixing Is Rife In Cricket
Lalit Modi, the former chairman of the Indian Premier League (IPL), has claimed that spot-fixing is rife in the game and that players should take more responsibility to end corruption.
In ‘Bookie Gambler Fixer Spy: A Journey to the Heart of Cricket’s Underworld’ by Ed Hawkins, Modi is quoted as saying: ‘Spot-fixing is rife in the game. And I’m talking globally. It’s a Pandora’s box. It’s staring you straight in the face, but difficult to prove. Almost impossible to prove.’
Modi also told of three occasions in which he says his life was threatened by ‘the underworld for refusing to fix IPL matches,’ and added: ‘It’s extremely difficult to spot. We had to warn players from time to time. We found undesirable elements in the stadium and removed them. We found them touring with players or managers of players who were in touch with bookmakers and we removed them.’
Modi emphasised his belief that players need to do more to end corruption, saying: ‘The players have to be the ones who take responsibility. It’s their game. The game is by them, for them and of them. They need to be speaking out instead of pushing it under the carpet, which is normally the case. They need to come out and tell the truth. No one will know better if it is happening than the teammates. If they won’t talk or give information it’s difficult for anyone else to know.’
