Two businessmen told our undercover reporters how they could offer fixes on matches in the Australian Twenty20 competition with the help of an Aussie cricketer
LOUNGING in the plush surroundings of a suite in Dubai’s £500-per-night Kempinski Hotel, Indian businessman Sobers Joban turned to our undercover investigators and gloated: “You want to see something magic in the Big Bash?”
It was part of a series of boasts made by Joban and partner Priyank Saxena about how they could offer fixes on up to four matches in the Australian Twenty20 competition with the help of an Aussie cricketer.
The pair claimed our undercover team - posing as underworld bookmakers - could make millions from fixes in the Big Bash as well as the Indian Premier League (IPL), and the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).
All three Twenty20 contests involve some of the sport’s biggest names — including past and present England stars. There is no suggestion the leagues are involved or aware of any wrongdoing.
Fixer Joban boasted how a former Australian player - who cannot be named but we are calling “X” - and an Australian cricket administrator who also cannot be named - had passed on information that they could sell on fixes for a handful of games.
Joban said: "So what you want? You want to see something magic in Big Bash?
"Big Bash we can do. Winning and loss. Some matches - we have some news, we got some confirmed news, through X and one man.
"Through X and also one man involved with this. We will get some news in Big Bash. Confirmed news.
"X is also involved in this. X get news from somebody - in Australia, a man who is also involved.
"He's doing all a lot of things, he's connected with a lot of people, the bookies and all."
He later revealed: "You know the Big Bash there will only be 3 to 4 matches that will be fixed."
The Big Bash has become a huge hit with England stars Kevin Pietersen, Elon Morgan and David Willey taking part this year alongside ex New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum as well as top Australian one-day internationals such as Aaron Finch, Glenn Maxwell and Adam Voges.
None is alleged to have been involved in any wrongdoing or involvement with Joban’s gang.
Joban insisted players could earn as much as £6million from carrying out fixes on IPL matches - with bookies raking in six times as much from illegal bets.
His partner Priyank also offered our reporters fixes on the Bangladesh Premier League which this year features a host of top stars.
The tournament – which ended on Tuesday – included England stars Jos Buttler, Liam Plunkett and Luke Wright, West Indians Kieron Pollard and Chris Gayle and Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi. Gayle scored a record 18 sixes in the Final.
Again, none is alleged to be involved in any wrong-doing.
Priyank said: "Do you want Bangladesh? You will get full script. All four sessions. Win and lose.”
He added that it would cost "1.5 crore" (£175,000) adding: “Let me know by this evening. I will fix everything nicely.”
Joban explained that players are paid by shady Hawala cash-only transfer to avoid large sums appearing in bank accounts.
Hawala agents are dotted around the world and pay out cash with guarantees in a system which dates back to the Middle ages.
He gave an example of two mean in Cape Town who are the main Hawala money men for a South African player, who cannot be named.
Joban and Priyank also wanted our undercover team to invest millions in a new Zimbabwe Premier T20 League they wanted to create entirely for the purposes of match-fixing.
The pair told how they would arrange script fixes on 24 or 25 of the tournament's 34 matches and boasted a host of top stars were set to play.
Joban boasted that 90 per cent of the players in a 257-man pool were selected to carry out fixes gloating: "90 per cent. They are all our puppets".
He said: "Our motive is not how to grow cricket in Zimbabwe, our motive is how to make money and this is the gambling, and we do all the scripted work there and we be sure we make money and all.”
The pair’s plans were dented last month when Zimbabwe was plunged into chaos by the fall of dictator Robert Mugabe.
In a recorded phone call, Priyank told one of our investigators: "I have spoken to Zimbabwe. If it doesn't take place in Zimbabwe it will be moved to Dubai.
“It will all be sorted out in a couple for days. Even if the Atom bomb falls.”
