Six Teams Compete Amid Match-Fixing Scare in UP T20 League 2025, The UP T20 League 2025 is currently underway in Lucknow, with six teams battling it out for the title. However, reports from the Times of India suggest that an attempt to fix matches has cast a shadow over the tournament.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) has filed an FIR regarding the incident. According to the FIR, Kashi Rudras’ team manager, Arjun Chauhan, received a suspicious Instagram message from an unknown account named ‘vipss_nakrani’.
T20 League: The sender claimed to be a major bookie and offered Rs. 1 crore to manipulate match outcomes, promising a commission of Rs. 50 lakh. Chauhan immediately reported the matter to the BCCI’s ACU.
Following this, the ACU set a trap, continuing communication with the accused on Instagram. They obtained his phone number, and he instructed them to communicate exclusively via WhatsApp messages and calls. The accused promised instant payment in cash or dollars and directed that players comply with his instructions during matches. He also claimed that his associates would be present at the venue to ensure payments were made immediately after the match.
T20 League: Lucknow Police File Charges Over Betting and Match-Fixing Allegations
The Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) recorded all calls and chats on a separate device and submitted the evidence to Lucknow police, who have now launched a formal investigation. According to authorities, the preliminary inquiry indicates a coordinated conspiracy involving betting and match-fixing.
T20 League: Lucknow police have registered cases under Sections 318, 319, 112, and 62 of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with Section 3 of the Public Gambling Act, 1867, and Section 66D of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
The UP T20 League 2025 features six teams: Meerut Mavericks, Kanpur Superstars, Kashi Rudras, Gaur Gorakhapur Lions, Lucknow Falcons, and Noida Kings. The final, scheduled for September 6, will see Kashi Rudras face off against Meerut Mavericks at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, which is hosting the entire tournament.
Police are actively working to identify the person behind the suspicious Instagram handle and trace their network. The league began on August 7 and will conclude with the final on September 6.
