Second player arrested in KPL fixing case

Karnataka Police's Central Crime Branch (CCB) has arrested 29-year-old batsman Nishant Shekhawat for his alleged involvement in fixing matches in the Karnataka Premier League (KPL).

The Indian Express reported that Shekhawat played an intermediary role between bookie Manoj Kumar alias Monty, and Bengaluru Blasters bowling coach Vinu Prasad, who was arrested alongside Blasters batsman M Viswanathan in late October.

Shekhawat allegedly lured Viswanathan into a fix with the help of Prasad during the 2018 season. Shekhawat was a player with the Shivamogga Lions franchise at the time.

The report stated that the police discovered Viswanathan was allegedly tasked with scoring fewer than ten runs in 20 balls in a 2018 fixture against Hubli Tigers, a fix in which he allegedly confirmed participation by changing bats and rolling up his sleeves. Viswanathan made 9 off 17 balls in that innings.

Shekhawat is the fifth man, and second player, to be arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged corruption in the league, which began with the arrest of franchise owner Ali Asfak Thara and the suspension of his franchise Belagavi Panthers last month. Drummer Bhavesh Bafna, who was outed by a cricketer he allegedly approached, is the other person who was arrested, and is being monitored by the BCCI's anti-corruption unit since he also played the drums during Royal Challengers Bangalore's home games at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.