Not Quite Cricket

Not Quite Cricket

Product ID: 22606

Regular price
$19.95
Sale price
$19.95
Regular price
Sold out
Unit price
per 
Shipping calculated at checkout.

Shipping Note: This item usually arrives at your doorstep in 10-15 days

Author: Pradeep Magazine
Publisher: Penguin
Year: 2007
Language: English
Pages: 157
ISBN/UPC (if available): 0143103229

Description

A revealing, in-depth account of the nexus between the world’s top cricketers and bookmakers

On 17 March 2007, the much-fancied Pakistan team crashed out of the cricket World Cup after a surprise defeat to minnows Ireland. Even as disappointed fans reacted with anger and dismay, rumour mills began working overtime, insinuating the involvement of bookmakers in the unexpected result, and hinting at match-fixing. Speculation reached a fever pitch when, the day after, Pakistan Coach Bob Woolmer was found murdered in his hotel room. Sources alleged that the hand of the sub-continental betting mafia was behind the attack on Woolmer, and pointed to the billions of dollars that may be at stake when a match is ‘thrown’.

This recent episode is only the latest in a string of incidents involving the world’s top cricketers. In recent years, the Indian subcontinent has emerged as perhaps the most lucrative arena in which world cricket is played, not least because of the enormous sums wagered on the outcome of every match. Fired by a chance encounter with a bookie in the Caribbean, top Indian cricket writer Pradeep Magazine set himself the task of finding out exactly how the shadowy world of betting and match-fixing works. He interviewed players, journalists, cricketing officials, and even posed as an informer for a bookmaker for a while. What emerged in the course of his inquiry was a story of divided loyalties and carefully camouflaged half-truths, of players who actively participated in match-fixing and others who colluded with them. He found that the money trail snakes its way into every part of the game in the subcontinent, and thence to the world.

This new and revised edition of this best-selling book brings the shocking story of betting scams and match-fixing in international cricket up to the present, and indicates how strong the bookie–cricketer ties may be even today.

Contents

Acknowledgements

Preface

A Cricket Casualty:
BOB WOOLMER

Preface 2000

PART I:
Against all odds

PART II:
A tale of neglect


Epilogue

Postscript

Chronology