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Pakistan bookmakers reveal depth of cricket match-fixing scandal
Huddled over a makeshift desk in a dimly lit office, the life led by Nomi Khan appears a world away from the fabulous luxury enjoyed by crickets corrupt match fixers.
Only the shrill of mobile phones from the seven at his disposal and his sharp suit give a hint the 30-year-olds business is special.
As a bookie working the illegal betting rings, Khan not his real name takes home in a year what it would take the average man 115 to earn.
Here on the heaving streets of Lahore it is as far from a genteel Lords test as you could imagine.
At the roundabout near the Gaddafi Cricket Stadium where Sri Lankas cricketers were attacked by terrorists last year, police tout AK47s. The debris of a suicide bombing, which left nearly 30 dead, is being swept up a few streets away.
It is this chaotic setting that the illegal bookies whose power straddles cricket call home.
LUXURY
The Daily Mirror today blows the lid on the dodgy bets, rigged matches and endemic corruption eating away at the gentlemans game.
Our investigation unveils the huge profits bent bookmakers in Lahore make routinely from international matches across the globe.
And we can reveal how poverty-stricken punters in Pakistan are the ones who really suffer when matches are fixed.
For days we had tried to set up a meeting with one of the illegal bookies in Pakistans cricket capital. We were told most still fear reprisals following widespread anger at the allegations surrounding the Pakistan test team. But eventually one, Khan, agreed to be interviewed.
In cricket betting for five years, he is deeply embedded in match-fixing. And, as long as we kept his identity secret, he was happy to explain how he makes nearly £270,000 a year tax free. A staggering sum in a region where earnings average between £100 and £200 a month.
He lives a playboy lifestyle, with a luxury property and flash cars. I rent out a separate flat for my business because it is totally illegal, married Khan says. I have seven people in a room on phones all the time. When people say they will pay up over the phone this is a contract.
The reason Ive managed to do so well here in Pakistan is that people will bet on anything in cricket. Cricket is the perfect sport, much more than football, because there are so many aspects of the match you can give odds on.
Last weeks revelation that Pakistans bowlers allegedly threw no-balls to order was no shock to Khan. He takes bets on no-balls, which opening batsmen will make 50 and even who will win the toss. Another seemingly rigged bet is when people predict the score after a certain number of overs, even how it will end in a specific number.
Amongst his regular punters, about 20% already know the outcome when they place their stake, he admits. His biggest gamblers collectively often wager up to half a million pounds on apparently long odds. Khan can read the tell-tale signs of a fix. The players body language is the key sign, he went on. Whenever there is a very sudden batting collapse I am clear about this, or you can guess there is something going on when the captain chooses strange field placings.
Bookmakers make their money through those without criminal connections who are not privy to the insider information, he said.
These unlucky betters unwittingly provide a pot for pay-outs to fixers, dishonest players and a cut for the bookies.
So widespread is the desperation in some parts of Lahore that punters place wagers on incidents in the street.
Another syndicate insider said: I heard of one instance recently where a bookie took bets by a cemetery. He was giving odds on whether the person in the coffin was male or female. The gravedigger confirmed the *** of the person he was burying before he paid out.
Another time a guy took bets on the colour of the next motorbike to crash at a busy junction. There are smashes all the time so they were able to see several in a few hours.
To make so much in so little time, Khan had to be ruthless. He is matter-of-fact about meting out punishment beatings. My average bet is probably over £20,000, he reveals. I deal with rich people and people who havent really got much money.
Sometimes I am a gentleman with my clients, sometimes I have to get tough. If people keep coming up with lame excuses I have to use force. I have some big guys who do that work for me.
Khan has to pay off bigger bookies to take out the loans he needs to pay out when a rigged bet comes in. Our fixer told us these bookies answer ultimately to notorious gang boss Dawood Ibrahim, Thought to be worth over £4billion, he is believed to ultimately control cricket match-fixing.
BRIBES
The Indian-born racketeer, said to live in Karachi, made most of his money through drug trafficking and extortion. His daughter Mahrukh is married to Junaid Miandad, the son of legendary ex-Pakistan cricket captain Javed Miandad, although there is no suggestion either of them have been involved in illegal activity.
The network of illegal betting syndicates stretches from Pakistan and India, to London and Johannesburg claims Khan. He claims politicians are involved in match-fixing and local police take bribes from bookies.
So Khan was not shocked by what allegedly happened at Lords. He adds: If Mazhar Majeed (The sports agent under investigation for match fixing) is guilty he is just small-fry. The rumour is he has been hung out to dry by one of the big syndicates that operate here and in India.
No one bets on league matches in Pakistan, he says. Its always internationals.
Khan claims that teams have even thrown a series of matches after players were tempted by backhanders.
One team was supposed to lose three matches and they did, Khan proudly claims. There will always be players tempted by the money.
With that his phone rings again and he gets up to leave the table to take another wager from a mysterious punter.
Before he goes theres just time to ask if hes scared of jail. He scoffs: The courts would probably just hold me overnight. Id pay bail, then be freed.
Pakistan bookmakers reveal depth of cricket match-fixing scandal - mirror.co.uk
Huddled over a makeshift desk in a dimly lit office, the life led by Nomi Khan appears a world away from the fabulous luxury enjoyed by crickets corrupt match fixers.
Only the shrill of mobile phones from the seven at his disposal and his sharp suit give a hint the 30-year-olds business is special.
As a bookie working the illegal betting rings, Khan not his real name takes home in a year what it would take the average man 115 to earn.
Here on the heaving streets of Lahore it is as far from a genteel Lords test as you could imagine.
At the roundabout near the Gaddafi Cricket Stadium where Sri Lankas cricketers were attacked by terrorists last year, police tout AK47s. The debris of a suicide bombing, which left nearly 30 dead, is being swept up a few streets away.
It is this chaotic setting that the illegal bookies whose power straddles cricket call home.
LUXURY
The Daily Mirror today blows the lid on the dodgy bets, rigged matches and endemic corruption eating away at the gentlemans game.
Our investigation unveils the huge profits bent bookmakers in Lahore make routinely from international matches across the globe.
And we can reveal how poverty-stricken punters in Pakistan are the ones who really suffer when matches are fixed.
For days we had tried to set up a meeting with one of the illegal bookies in Pakistans cricket capital. We were told most still fear reprisals following widespread anger at the allegations surrounding the Pakistan test team. But eventually one, Khan, agreed to be interviewed.
In cricket betting for five years, he is deeply embedded in match-fixing. And, as long as we kept his identity secret, he was happy to explain how he makes nearly £270,000 a year tax free. A staggering sum in a region where earnings average between £100 and £200 a month.
He lives a playboy lifestyle, with a luxury property and flash cars. I rent out a separate flat for my business because it is totally illegal, married Khan says. I have seven people in a room on phones all the time. When people say they will pay up over the phone this is a contract.
The reason Ive managed to do so well here in Pakistan is that people will bet on anything in cricket. Cricket is the perfect sport, much more than football, because there are so many aspects of the match you can give odds on.
Last weeks revelation that Pakistans bowlers allegedly threw no-balls to order was no shock to Khan. He takes bets on no-balls, which opening batsmen will make 50 and even who will win the toss. Another seemingly rigged bet is when people predict the score after a certain number of overs, even how it will end in a specific number.
Amongst his regular punters, about 20% already know the outcome when they place their stake, he admits. His biggest gamblers collectively often wager up to half a million pounds on apparently long odds. Khan can read the tell-tale signs of a fix. The players body language is the key sign, he went on. Whenever there is a very sudden batting collapse I am clear about this, or you can guess there is something going on when the captain chooses strange field placings.
Bookmakers make their money through those without criminal connections who are not privy to the insider information, he said.
These unlucky betters unwittingly provide a pot for pay-outs to fixers, dishonest players and a cut for the bookies.
So widespread is the desperation in some parts of Lahore that punters place wagers on incidents in the street.
Another syndicate insider said: I heard of one instance recently where a bookie took bets by a cemetery. He was giving odds on whether the person in the coffin was male or female. The gravedigger confirmed the *** of the person he was burying before he paid out.
Another time a guy took bets on the colour of the next motorbike to crash at a busy junction. There are smashes all the time so they were able to see several in a few hours.
To make so much in so little time, Khan had to be ruthless. He is matter-of-fact about meting out punishment beatings. My average bet is probably over £20,000, he reveals. I deal with rich people and people who havent really got much money.
Sometimes I am a gentleman with my clients, sometimes I have to get tough. If people keep coming up with lame excuses I have to use force. I have some big guys who do that work for me.
Khan has to pay off bigger bookies to take out the loans he needs to pay out when a rigged bet comes in. Our fixer told us these bookies answer ultimately to notorious gang boss Dawood Ibrahim, Thought to be worth over £4billion, he is believed to ultimately control cricket match-fixing.
BRIBES
The Indian-born racketeer, said to live in Karachi, made most of his money through drug trafficking and extortion. His daughter Mahrukh is married to Junaid Miandad, the son of legendary ex-Pakistan cricket captain Javed Miandad, although there is no suggestion either of them have been involved in illegal activity.
The network of illegal betting syndicates stretches from Pakistan and India, to London and Johannesburg claims Khan. He claims politicians are involved in match-fixing and local police take bribes from bookies.
So Khan was not shocked by what allegedly happened at Lords. He adds: If Mazhar Majeed (The sports agent under investigation for match fixing) is guilty he is just small-fry. The rumour is he has been hung out to dry by one of the big syndicates that operate here and in India.
No one bets on league matches in Pakistan, he says. Its always internationals.
Khan claims that teams have even thrown a series of matches after players were tempted by backhanders.
One team was supposed to lose three matches and they did, Khan proudly claims. There will always be players tempted by the money.
With that his phone rings again and he gets up to leave the table to take another wager from a mysterious punter.
Before he goes theres just time to ask if hes scared of jail. He scoffs: The courts would probably just hold me overnight. Id pay bail, then be freed.
Pakistan bookmakers reveal depth of cricket match-fixing scandal - mirror.co.uk
). Where PCB will have to take a line for defending these tainted players.
