String of surprise upsets and unpredictable results have forced the big names to refrain from accepting hefty bets on the finals
String of surprise upsets and unpredictable results have forced the big names to refrain from accepting hefty bets on the finals
The bookies may have scored big on the Lok Sabha election results last week, but steered clear of accepting any hefty bets on the Indian Premier League 2 final in Johannesburg yesterday.
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Double delight: People at the Kamala Vihar Sports Club in Kandivli boogied while watching the IPL finals yesterday because the club had arranged a DJ specially for the occasion. PIC/Vishal Yadav |
In fact, gangster Dawood Ibrahim's betting syndicate suffered the biggest setback as most confused bookies refrained from placing bets, in what is estimated to be a Rs 500-crore business, during the fast-paced final.
Sources revealed that betting was reduced to less that 50 per cent, as most bookies were unable to establish a clear pattern during the final stages of the IPL. A series of upset victories have led bookies and punters into believing that some of the matches could have been fixed.
Even Dawood's trusted lieutenant Chhote Mian alias Bharat Bookie has withdrawn, as not many punters were 'cutting' their bets through D Company's syndicate. Other bookies like Jayanti Malad, Laku Masalawalla alias Praful, Samrat and Shoban Kalachowkie have withdrawn from the betting circuit during this IPL season.
Odd one out
The Deccan Chargers were considered the favourites to win the final, opening at 87 paise and later settling at
95 paise. The Bangalore Royal Challengers were pegged at Rs 1.10 paise after starting at an even 95 paise for
a win.
While the top bookies have given the finals the snub, small-time punters are left to fill the void. However, even they were accepting measly amounts, and those bets too are being 'cut' through bookies like Laxmikant Thane alias LT and Manoj Metro.
Meanwhile, sources in the underworld informed that gangster Chhota Shakeel's younger brother Anwar has been entrusted with the job of dealing with bookies and collecting money. He could be rubbing shoulders with the South Africa mafia to threaten players into underplaying, sources added.
No takers
Deccan Chargers
Odds: 95 paise
Bangalore RC
Odds: Rs 1.10
