Two days to the biggest cricket carnival in the world and underground bookmakers or bookies have already put bets worth millions of dollars on the World Cup winner.
According to one estimate, nearly Rs. 40,000 crore could exchange hands through illegal betting in this World Cup. And if the betting odds are any indication then team India is most likely to grab the Cup.
According to the forward rates and bookmakers arithmetic, India's rate is set at Rs. 3, which means if one bets Rs. 1 on Team India and it wins, the return would be Rs. 3. Similarly Sri Lanka is at Rs. 4.75 and South Africa is at Rs. 5.35. Australia is atRs. 6 while Pakistan is at Rs. 8.75.
“India is first, Sri Lanka is at number two. South Africa is at number three and Australia at number four. Then come England, Pakistan, New Zealand and West Indies. Bangladesh is followed by Zimbabwe while Ireland's chances are remote,” said one bookie.
Betting is illegal in India and the police have already grabbed a bookie this month. But an estimated 20,000 bookies continue to operate in shady dens of Mumbai's bylanes.
Police say the racket is international. “We are dealing with it, but the problem is that the websites are available for betting. Though it is illegal but internationally it is all available. So these bookies can open an account in Singapore and get a password in India and operate,” said Deven Bharti, additional commissioner of police (crime).
The ICC World Cup Cricket 2011, which is jointly being organised by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, will begin from February 19 at the Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium in Dhaka. The mega final of the biggest cricket event is scheduled to be played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on April 2.
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