KPL Fixing Row: Ex-Karnataka Cricketers CM Gautam & Kazi Arrested

File pictures of CM Gautam & Abrar Kazi.

(Photo: The Quint)

CM Gautam, a first-class player who turned up for three IPL teams, and his former Karnataka teammate Abrar Qazi were on Thursday arrested for allegedly accepting money to spot-fix in the scandal-ridden Karnataka Premier League.

"We have arrested two players with regard to KPL fixing," Additional Commissioner of Police Sandeep Patil told PTI, adding some more arrests may be made as the investigation progressed.

Police said the two were involved fixing in the KPL 2019 finals between Hubballi versus Ballari.

“They were paid Rs 20 lakh for slow batting, and for other things. Also, they fixed another match against Bengaluru team,” an investigation officer said.

The arrest comes close on the heels of the detention of Bengaluru team player Nishant Singh Shekhawat earlier this week. Three others including the owner of the Belagavi team, have been arrested in the past couple of months since the scandal came to light.

Gautam and Kazi have played in domestic cricket and the Indian Premier League also.

Apart from featuring in the Ranji Trophy for Karnataka and Goa, Gautam has played in the IPL for RCB, Mumbai Indians and Delhi Daredevils, the officer added.

The 30-year-old Kazi played just one match for the RCB back in 2011, failing to make much of an impact. He has 17 first-class appearances to his name.

Gautam, perhaps the biggest name to be caught in the scandal, has 94 first-class games to his credit and was a regular in the Karnataka team. He shifted allegiance to Goa this season.

Both Gautham and Kazi had been named in their respective state squads for the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy tournament, scheduled to begin on Friday.

On October 26, Bengaluru Blasters bowling coach Vinu Prasad and batsman Vishwanathan were arrested in connection with the fixing scandal.

The coach allegedly manipulated a game between Bengaluru Blasters and Belagavi Panthers last year.

The KPL fixing came to limelight with the arrest of Ali Ashfaq Thara, who owned the Belagavi team.