23 March,2011 06:15 AM IST | | J Dey
Despite chokers tag, punters are accepting big bets on the African country to lift its maiden title
As the World Cup enters its knockout stage, bookies and punters are licking their lips at the prospect of making a killing.
India's lacklustre bowling and fielding display in the league matches is one of the main reasons for the punters to back the South Africans to lift the World Cup
Consider this at the start of the tournament India was a clear favourite to lift the World Cup at the Wankhede stadium in front of a roaring home crowd.
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However, after the conclusion of the 42 league matches, India has slipped to second position on the bookie charts.
The home team's lacklustre bowling and fielding display is one of the main reasons for the punters to rethink the odds. Instead, the South Africans have now emerged as clear favourites to win the World Cup.
Secondly, as per the bookies' prediction India will take on Pakistan in the semi-final at Mohali on March 30. A match considered to rake up more money than the World Cup final itself for the bookmakers.
The odds are as follows: South Africa Rs 3.70, India Rs 3.90, Australia Rs 5.60, Sri Lanka Rs 5.60, Pakistan Rs 6.20, England Rs 11.50, West Indies Rs 22 and New Zealand Rs 26.
Quarterfinal stage
According to the odds put up by punters, Pakistan (55 paise) is a favourite to win the first quarterfinal against the West Indies (Rs 1.78).
While India (75 paise) is set to hand out the second defeat of the tournament to Ricky Ponting's men (Rs 1.28) at Ahmedabad.
South Africa at 40 paise is pipped to send the Kiwis (Rs 2.30) home, and the Lankans (55 paise) are likely to end England's (Rs 1.80) dream of a maiden World Cup title.
Indo-Pak clash
The biggest money-spinner for the bookies will be an India-Pakistan clash in the World Cup. According to the odds, India will square up against Pakistan at Mohali where a few thousand crores are set to change hands during the day-night fixture.
Some of the bookies fear that gangster Dawood Ibrahim and his cronies might flex their muscle or threaten players during these crucial matches. Bookies also predict that all the matches will end in nail-biting finishes.
This gives them enough chance to lay a combination of bets on sessions and ball-to-ball bets.
Insiders informed that most of the top bookies and their punters have shifted their base to plush farmhouses outside the city limits. A large number of bookmakers have migrated to Gujarat and few even to casinos in Goa.
Some of the bookies under the scanner of income tax and police have been identified as Metro, Jayanti Malad, Sunil Malad, Lotus, JK Ahmedabad, Bhaskar, Shoban Kalachowkie, Ashok Royal, Patiya Kano, Virendra Borivali, Junior Kolkata, Mandi Dilli, Kothari, Prakash Cassette, Jitu Dadi, Balu Eranda and Dilip Sadhana.
Did you know?
India has never lost to Pakistan in a World Cup match. India was victorious on all four outings 1992, 1996, 1999 and 2003
