Karnataka cricketers CM Gautam and Abrar Kazi have been arrested by the Central Crime Branch Bangalore for their association in the Karnataka Premier League’s match-fixing scandal. Gautam and Kazi, both are a part of the Bellari Tuskers, have shifted their base to Goa and Mizoram respectively earlier in the domestic season. The duo were also included in their state squads for the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20, which will begin on Friday.

The duo was paid a sum of INR 20 lakhs to bat slowly in the final against Hubli and also they were involved in fixing another match which they played against the Bengaluru outfit in the KPL. Further investigations suggest there will be more.

A former India A player, CM Gautam has played in the IPL for Royal Challengers Bangalore, Mumbai Indians and Delhi Daredevils. He has played 94 First-Class matches scoring 4716 runs at 41.4 with 10 hundred and 24 fifties and was a key player of the Karnataka side that won the domestic season two years in a row in 2013-14 and 2014-15.

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Abrar Kazi, who played for Nagaland last season, played for Mizoram team this season. Their arrest took place after another KPL player Nishant Singh Shekhawat was arrested earlier this week. Shekhawat is accused of helping the bookies to get in touch with other players and coaching staff as well. The bowling coach of the Bengaluru Blasters team Vinu Prasad and a batsman M Viswanathan were also arrested on account of cheating and conspiracy.

Fast bowler Bhavesh Gulecha, 26, has told the police that he was approached by Bhavesh Bafna, the celebrity drummer, to underperform during a match of KPL. However, he has given the statement to the police saying he was approached by Bafna to concede more than 10 runs an over in a match in the 2019 KPL.