Match fixing is a term used to describe a rigged game in cricket as well as other sports. In this case, a team conspires together to be able to intentionally allow one team to win the game. Some other match fixing instances occur when the officials are paid to make calls in favor of a team giving them the advantages. One of the most controversial match fixing games in cricket is the game involving South African Captain Hansie Cronje. However, it was a failed attempt.
How Does Match Fixing Works in Cricket?
Bets are usually placed on every delivery in a 20-overs or a 50-overs match. Players who attempt to fix a match usually receive bribes to fix incidents in a game. Betting in cricket matches is very fraudulent and a very lucrative business. Gamblers usually bribe bowlers or batsmen to play within a set of planned incidents to be able to control the result of the game. All sports are affected by match fixing. However, manipulating cricket games has several unique factors involved. In a team game, with the limited number of players for each segment, fixers can easily identify which players they can work with, mostly the wicketkeeper, the batsman and the bowler. Cricket is also a game of segments. Fixers can concentrate on the small parts of the game to avoid being caught, instead of manipulating an entire match.
Match Fixing and Betting in Cricket
The most number of betters in cricket can be found in Asia in countries such as India, China and Singapore where the game is highly patronized. Cricket match fixing is also very susceptible to gangs. Most of them use their power to influence moments in the match to avoid detection. Bookmarkers are the personalities involved in making match fixing work. The betting market in these areas is unregulated. In India, betting in cricket is even televised. The illegal betting market in cricket is estimated to be worth billions of dollars. Among the personalities who were involved in match fixing in cricket were Mohammed Azharuddin of India, Salim Malik of Pakistan and Hanse Cronje of South Africa. All three were banned for life in 2000 for being involved in controlling the results of matches.