by certain number of runs to be allowed in a certain over) and other such
things is almost as bad as out and out match fixing. IF AT ANY TIME
BOTH TEAMS ARE NOT PLAYING WITH THE SOLE INTENTION TO GIVE THEIR BEST
IT IS DOING A DISSERVICE NOT JUST TO CRICKET BUT ALSO TO SPORTS IN
GENERAL.
Than we have stupid comments coming from commentators and other such
people (note all who have a stake in IPL continuing and the truth not
coming out).
They all say things like just one man can make a difference and win
the match for you. So, even if you have 5 or 6 players in your pocket
you cannot guarantee your team will lose. However, the converse of
that is JUST ONE MAN CAN ALSO POSSIBLY MAKE YOU LOSE A MATCH. A BOWLER
WHO GIVES AWAY 20 RUNS IN AN OVER. Consider a team needing 30 runs in
3 overs. Now the team needs 10 runs in 2 overs. From a very difficult
position, victory (though not guaranteed) is almost certain. So, its a
question of getting the odds vastly in the favor of whom the bookies
want. That way even if the team wins or loses the bookies always come
out ahead.
Take the following example.
Bets are made practically at the end of each ball. Odds change as the
match situation continously changes. So, at the start of the match
when the first team is batting, lets say the odds are even. Now
suppose in the first couple of overs itself 3 wickets fall. The odds
go drastically against the batting team. From almost even odds they
can be something like 4 or 5 to 1. Now this team is then allowed to
make a competitive score of 160 in 20 overs. At this stage the odds
become 1.5 to 1 for victory. Now it doesn't matter who wins or loses.
The bookie comes out ahead. Its simple mathematics.
Because if the bookie takes bets for the first team to win, people are
prepared to pay 500 rupees for the second team winning to getting just
100 rupees. Now when the odds drop to 1.5 to 1, the bookie bets on the
second team and can earn 200 rupees for just betting 300 rupees. Now
in this example the bookie is prepared to lose 100 rupees in the first
bet in order to win 500 rupees. And in the second bet he is prepared
to lose 300 rupees in order to win 200 rupees.
If the team batting first wins, the bookie earns 500 rupees from the
first bet and loses 300 rupees in the second bet. He comes out 200
rupees ahead. If the team batting second wins, the bookie loses 100
rupees from the first bet and wins 200 rupees from the second bet.
Either way the bookie wins. If team 1 wins the bookie wins 200 rupees
net. If team 2 wins the bookie wins 100 rupees net. HE CANNOT LOSE
EITHER WAY BECAUSE HE HAS BET IN BOTH INSTANCES WITH THE ODDS IN HIS
FAVOR. It is a win win situation for the bookie.
SO, MR. BOZO BHOGLE AND OTHERS. EVEN IF THE OUTCOME OF THE MATCH IS
NOT PREDETERMINED IT DOESN'T MATTER. JUST ALLOWING THE VARIANCES TO
OCCUR IN THE WAY THEY DO IS BAD ENOUGH. GIVING THAT EDGE TO THE BOOKIE
GUARANTEES THEIR WINNING EVERY TIME.