Bookie says four Sunrisers Hyderabad players fixed IPL match: Report

A bookie has told Mumbai Police that four Sunrisers Hyderabad players were involved in match-fixing during the team's debut season in the Indian Premier League, according to a report in the Deccan Chronicle.

Chandresh Shivlal Patel, the Mumbai-based bookie, has alleged in his statement to Mumbai Police Crime Branch that Hyderabad players Thisara Perera, Hanuma Vihari, Karan Sharma and Ashish Reddy fixed a match for Rupees six crores. Patel's statement figures in the chargesheet filed by Mumbai Police on Saturday. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Cricket has rubbished allegations against Perera, who is currently playing in the Champions League T20.

Patel was arrested by the Delhi Police special cell from a Mumbai hotel. He reportedly met the four players in Pune and fixed the deal with the help of other bookies, says the report. It is believed, Mumbai Police made calls to Ashish Reddy and Hanuma Vihari for their comments on Sunday but they went unanswered.

As per the report, the April 17 match between Hyderabad and Pune Warriors was allegedly 'fixed.' A deal was struck between bookies and the four players at a Pune hotel and it was 'agreed' that certain number of runs would be scored in 10 and 20 overs, respectively. Money was also bet on Hyderabad losing the game. However, bookies lost money because Hyderabad won the match.

On September 13, Board of Control for Cricket in India imposed a life ban on two Rajasthan Royals' players S Sreesanth and Ankeet Chavan after being found guilty of spot-fixing in the IPL.

Mumbai Police has also charged Chennai Super Kings' team owner Gurunath Meiyappan for betting and cheating during the IPL. Pakistani umpire Asad Rauf has also been named in the chargesheet along with actor Vindoo Dara Singh and 15 bookies from Pakistan. The hearing has been scheduled for November 21.