Fake cricket league goes a long way to dupe some Russian gamblers

When he was in college, there was a new all-sports network. He watched sports-related shows like ESPN and rugby. Cricket is the only sport that has taken off. Its broadcast deals are now far more lucrative than soccer.

Indian police shut down a fake cricket league that enlisted farmers and youths to pretend to be professional players and hired a presenter who sounded like one of the sport's most famous commentators. The whole thing was a movie set, with the action streamed on YouTube to Russian bars. There were fake schedules, fake pennant races and fake playoffs. Russians were betting on the games. A policeman grew suspicious of early morning cricket matches being played in a farm field by a bunch of dirt farmers under an array of flood lights. It has to have been a hoot to know that people are falling for such a massive production.

Fake cricket league goes a long way to dupe some Russian gamblers.