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The ICC’s investigation into match fixing in cricket is to investigate several IPL matches, according to sources close to the inquiry.

The International Cricket Council’s Anti Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) is understood to have been focussing on several matches at the IPL as well as a number of Test matches and Twenty20 games as part of their attempt to stop spot fixing and result fixing in cricket. The ACSU investigators are said to have been working on several cases prior to the News of the World’s allegations about several Pakistan players who are alleged to have fixed elements of the fourth Test match at Lords between England and Pakistan.

It is believed that several IPL matches showed signs of unusual betting patterns and that investigators will attempt to seize phone records and bank information from players who took part in those games.

The ICC is becoming increasingly concerned about the regularity with which accusations of match fixing are levelled at certain teams and that the questioning of cricket’s honesty will have a long-term negative effect on the popularity of the game.

Yesterday, the Daily Telegraph reported that a senior English county cricket player was asked to name any price to fix one-day matches.

This player remains anonymous, but immediately after he received the offer, he contacted the authorities. However, he is rightly concerned that other players will not be so scrupulous. County matches are on live in India, and it seems that the betting rings which were rumoured to be active in the IPL have extended to the English game.

The player, who was speaking to the Telegraph, said: My worry with this is that there will be a situation where two of the smaller counties play against each other in a televised game and they could come to an agreement and make about five times their salary from one match.”

England captain Andrew Strauss, also speaking to the Telegraph, condemned the practice, saying: ”We have a duty as players to make sure that if we hear of it or are approached by someone we come forward and report it straight away. It is the only way of ironing it out. It is not something the game can do with. There are a lot of measures in place and hopefully those will be stepped up if necessary.”.

This revelation comes at a bad time for English cricket, overshadowing the start of the test match between England and Bangladesh, which started earlier today. It also raises concerns about potential ’spot-fixing’ in cricket, where a player will agree to do something on a specific ball.

England vs Bangladesh betting odds

The Chennai Super Kings beat the Mumbai Indians by 22 runs in the final of the 2010 IPL and the result was considered a suprise as the Super Kings had been the outsiders in the pre-match betting.

Chennai were on offer at 6/5 (bet $5 to make $6 profit) while Mumbai could be backed at 8/11. But Suresh Raina scored 57 not out as Chennai posted a total of 168-5 and their rivals for the title could only reach 146-9, with Tendulkar top scoring on 48.

The final saw the pre-tournament 5/1 second favourites Super Kings beat the 6/1 third favourites in the final, which was slightly overshadowed by the political ructions in India surrounding the IPL. Chairman and commissioner of the IPL Lalit Modi was suspended just hours after the final over allegations of money laundering, disappearing television fees, match fixing and illegal gambling.

Shashank Manohar, the president of the BCCI, said: “While we rejoice and celebrate the great success of IPL season three, the alleged acts of individual misdemeanours of Mr Lalit K Modi, chairman IPL and vice president, BCCI have brought a bad name to the administration of cricket and the game itself.

“Immediately after the conclusion of the IPL final, the secretary, BCCI Mr N Srinivasan has, in consultation with me, issued a notice to Modi calling upon him to show cause within 15 days why disciplinary action should not be taken against him. Simultaneously in exercise of the powers vested in me, I have suspended Modi from participating in the affairs of the Board, the IPL, the working committee and any other committee of the BCCI.”

The third season of the IPL has gripped India, both for the quality of the sport and the soap opera qualities of events surrounding the tournament.

The preliminary stages of the Twenty20 World Cup start on 27 April and Australia are 7/2 favourites for the tournament, followed by South Africa and India who are both on offer at 5/1. Sri Lanka are 6/1, followed by Pakistan at 10/1 and England at 12/1.

Twenty20 World Cup 2010 Betting Odds
Twenty20 World Cup Match Index

The bombs which caused the first IPL semi-final to be moved may have been set off by an illegal bookmaking racket, according to the London Times.

The home minister for the state of Karnataka, V.S. Acharya, told the Times: “We have received credible information from intelligence sources that the betting racket is behind the blasts. We are carrying out investigations.”

This bomb blasts add to the off-field turmoil which is currently overshadowing the IPL semi-finals, as the Indian government announced that there would be an investigation into the financial workings of the tournament.

IPL chief administrator Lalit Modi is at the centre of these allegations and denies all wrongdoing, but there has been a meeting between senior officials of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, as they look to decide their stance on the issue.

Later today, the first semi-final will be played, between the Royal Challengers Bangalore and the Mumbai Indians. It will be played in Mumbai due to security concerns after the explosions in Bangalore.

IPL winner betting odds

The Mumbai Indians take on the Royal Challengers Bangalore today, in the first of the IPL semi-finals. The Indians dominated the regular season, winning ten of their fourteen matches, but it could all be to no avail if they fail to win today.

In their last match, Mumbai lost to the Kolkata Knight Riders, but, having already qualified, and resting key players like Sachin Tendulkar, this was not too surprising and should not be exaggerated. The Challengers scraped into the semi-finals, despite being crushed by the Indians in their last match, and they will need to be a lot more competitive if they are to win today.

Mumbai are favourites for the match, priced at 3/4 (bet $40 to make $30 profit), while the Challengers are at 6/5.

Bangalore are one of the few teams to have beaten Mumbai this year, when Dale Steyn and Vinay Kumar took three wickets each as they ruthlessly exposed Mumbai’s batting. However, that was in front of a home crowd, and the bombs set off the last time these two sides met mean that the match will now be played at Mumbai.

Tendulkar is the key for the Indians, and on the rare occasions that he has been dismissed early, the Mumbai batting line-up has looked fragile. Sachin is priced at 21/10 to be top batsman for the Indians today. Next in the betting is his opening partner Sanath Jayasuriya, who is at 9/2, followed by South African JP Duminy at 5/1. The value bet here looks to be Kieron Pollard, who is at 8/1. If Mumbai need quick runs at the death, then it will be Pollard who is likely to oblige.

Bangalore are equally reliant on one batsman, in this case South African Jacques Kallis. He is only 19 runs behind Tendulkar in the leading run-scorers chart, and is the 11/4 favourite to top-score for the Challengers today. Kevin Pietersen is next, at 7/2, with Manish Pandey at 5/1. Robin Uthappa is at 11/2.

Tendulkar is a heavy favourite to pip Kallis to the title of top tournament batsman, priced at 2/5. Kallis is at 7/4.

Mumbai are favourites to win the tournament, priced at 11/5. The Chennai Super Kings are next, at 3/1, with Bangalore and the Deccan Chargers both at 10/3.

Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Mumbai Indians betting odds

IPL winner betting odds

Which bookmakers take bets on the IPL from Indian citizens?

In spite of Mumbai’s loss to Kolkata yesterday, they still came top of the table, with the Deccan, Chennai and Bangalore making up the rest of the semi-final teams.

Mumbai are favourites to win the competition from here, priced at 21/10, while Chennai are at 3/1. Bangalore are at 10/3 to win, and the Deccan Chargers are at 7/2.

Full IPL semi-finals betting preview

Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Mumbai Indians betting odds

Chennai Super Kings vs Deccan Chargers betting odds

IPL winner betting odds

Which bookmakers take bets on the IPL from Indian citizens?

Now that we have reached the business end of the IPL season, the teams are scrapping it out to finish in the top four in the league, in order to reach the semi-finals, where each team has a big chance of winning. The two sides in action today currently occupy third and fourth places in the table, and will be very confident of advancing should they win today.

Chennai will be looking to build on their good performance last match, when they held the Kolkata Knight Riders to only 139, and then cruised to victory with six overs and nine wickets left. Delhi, however, did not fare well in their last match, failing to take advantage of a weakened Mumbai side, and slumping to a 39 run defeat.

The betting for this match is incredibly close, with Chennai marginal underdogs at 21/20 (bet $20 to make $21 profit). Delhi are at 19/20.

Chennai’s openers, Matthew Hayden and Murali Vijay, are joint favourites to make the top score for the Super Kings, both priced at 3/1. Next is Suresh Raina, who smashed 78 from only 39 balls in the last match. He is priced at 7/2, ahead of MS Dhoni, who is at 5/1.

Virender Sehwag, who recently retained his title as Wisden International cricketer of the year, is favourite to be top batsman for the Daredevils, priced at 11/4. David Warner is a short way behind at 3/1, followed by Gautam Gambhir who is at 4/1.

Both of these teams are seen as having a good chance of winning this tournament, as joint third favourites behind Mumbai and Bangalore. Mumbai are at 21/10, Bangalore at 7/2, and both of today’s sides are at 9/2.

IPL Matches - Betting Index

IPL Winner Betting Odds

Which bookmakers take bets on the IPL from Indian citizens?

The Rajasthan Royals host the Royal Challengers Bangalore in today’s IPL game, with both teams’ semi-final aims on the line. They are two of the six teams who have won six and lost six of their matches, and with Mumbai already having secured their semi-final spot, only three of those teams will make it.

Rajasthan suffered at the hands of Mumbai in their last match, only making 138 when chasing 174. The Challengers, however, will go into the match on a high, having cruised to a win over the Kolkata Knight Riders in their last match.

The last time these two sides played, the Royals were bowled out for 92, and Bangalore easily chased down the meagre total without losing a wicket. As such, the Challengers are favourites for the match today, priced at 4/5 (bet $50 to make $40 profit), while the Royals are at 11/10.

Jacques Kallis has slipped down to second behind Sachin Tendulkar in the race for the Orange cap, and will want to make up the 14 runs and put some daylight between him and his illustrious rival. He is priced at 9/4 to be top scorer for the Challengers. Rahul Dravid and Kevin Pietersen are next, both at 9/2, while Manish Pandey, Ross Taylor and Robin Uthappa are all at 5/1.

Michael Lumb and Naman Ojha are joint favourites to be top batsman for the Royals, both priced at 7/2, while Yusuf Pathan looks good value at 9/2.

IPL Matches - Betting Index

IPL Winner Betting Odds

Which bookmakers take bets on the IPL from Indian citizens?

The second of today’s IPL matches is an absolutely crucial contest, which will go a long way to deciding whether either of these two sides qualify for the semi-finals.

Earlier today, the Mumbai Indians beat the Delhi Daredevils, after a late display of power hitting from Kieron Pollard gave Mumbai a total of 183 to defend.

Both the Super Kings and the Knight Riders are on ten points, with Mumbai already through to the semis and four teams on twelve points. Unless Kolkata win by a huge margin, it is unlikely that they will move up into the top four, due to their inferior net run rate, but a win for Chennai would see them vault up to at least fourth place, and potentially third.

Chennai are favourites for the game, priced at 3/4 (bet $40 to make $30 profit), while the Knight Riders are at 6/5 to win.

Murali Vijay and Matthew Hayden are joint favourites to be top batsman for the Super Kings, priced at 3/1, ahead of Suresh Raina who is at 4/1. Chennai’s captain, MS Dhoni, is priced at 5/1 to make the top score for his side.

Chris Gayle and Sourav Ganguly lead the market for Kolkata’s top batsman, priced at 5/2 and 3/1 respectively. Brad Hodge and Brendon McCullum are both at 7/2.

Chennai are reasonably well-fancied to win the competition, priced at 8/1, while the fact that Kolkata will struggle to progress to the semi-finals means that they are at 14/1 to win IPL 3.

IPL Matches - Betting Index

IPL Winner Betting Odds

Which bookmakers take bets on the IPL from Indian citizens?

In the first of today’s IPL matches, table toppers the Mumbai Indians host the Delhi Daredevils, having already all but cemented their place in the semi-finals. Delhi are currently in third place on twelve points, but there are three other teams on the same amount, all of whom have a good chance of making the semis.

Delhi turned in a woeful performance in their last match, losing to the Punjab Kings XI, who are bottom of the table, and have no chance of qualifying. The Daredevils were bowled out for 111 runs, and the Kings easily made the total. If they are to make the semis, Delhi will have to pick themselves up quickly, but they will face a tough test from Mumbai, who have won eight of their eleven matches.

When these teams last played, Mumbai crushed Delhi, winning by 98 runs, so it is surprising that Delhi are favourites for the match today, priced at 4/5 (bet $50 to make $40 profit). Having already secured their berth in the semis, Mumbai could rest players, but their price of 6/5 looks like good value, as they will surely still put in a good performance to keep their momentum up.

Virender Sehwag is the favourite to be top batsman for the Daredevils, priced at 11/4, followed by David Warner who is at 3/1. Tillakaratne Dilshan and Gautam Gambhir are both at 4/1, ahead of South African AB de Villiers, who is a 9/2 shot.

Sachin Tendulkar is currently embroiled in battle to be top run scorer in the tournament with Jacques Kallis, who edged ahead of him in the race yesterday. Tendulkar has scored 512 runs so far, at an average of 56.88 and he is favourite to top score for Mumbai today, priced at 15/8. Shikhar Dhawan and Sanath Jayasuriya are both at 4/1, and JP Duminy is at 9/2. Mumbai could experiment with players today, and the 8/1 which is available on both Graham Napier and Dwayne Bravo looks good.

Mumbai are favourites to win the competition this year, priced at 12/5, while Delhi are next in the betting at 3/1.

IPL Matches - Betting Index

IPL Winner Betting Odds

Which bookmakers take bets on the IPL from Indian citizens?