KATHMANDU, Jan 21: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CIB) of Nepal Police has concluded that there was match-fixing in the T-20 cricket league organised recently by the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN).

CIB Spokesperson SP Sanjay Singh Thapa said on Friday that the bureau’s investigation concluded that the matches were rigged. After getting the information that there was spot fixing in the T-20 league, the CIB had started an investigation from January 8.

“It has been found that people who were in the managerial role of the game or people who were associated with the game were involved in match fixing. Accordingly, we have moved forward to bring the issue into legal scope. We are preparing to publish the report on the first day of next week,” Thapa said.

The league, which ended on January 12, was controversial from the beginning and after suspicion of match fixing in the league, the CIB started the investigation. 

A representative of the International Cricket Council (ICC) arrived in Kathmandu on January 5 to monitor the Nepal T-20 League as there was suspicion of spot fixing. The team also met the CIB and said that it would assist the CIB's investigation.

Similarly, Jatin Ahluwalia, the owner of Indian company Seven Three Sports, which is a strategic partner of the league, left the league abruptly and went to India.

Sachin Timalsina, who was a commentator of the league, posted a video on social media on January 3 and said that he withdrew from the competition as he had experienced match-fixing in the league. Soon after, the captain of Kathmandu Knights, Gyanendra Malla, said that one of his team's players was approached for match fixing.

During one of the matches, Biratnagar Super Kings and Kathmandu Knights delayed the match saying that the players did not get the salary they should have got. Later, the match started after the officials of Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) assured to provide them the wages.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane instructed the Nepal Police to investigate the controversy surrounding the Nepal T-20 League after various controversial news of the league came out.

In the same way, the National Sports Council (NSC) also requested for necessary evidence and documents from CAN regarding the approval of foreign players as well as the operation of the league. However, CAN has ignored the request and because of recent discrepancies in the league, NSC has also formed a five-member task force for investigation.

 
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