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Bookie Gambler Fixer Spy: A Journey to the Heart of Cricket's Underworld
'The most explosive book yet about corruption in cricket' Lawrence Booth, editor of "Wisden Cricketers' Almanack"A startling and powerful journey to the very core of India's illegal bookmaking industry that exposes the scale of corruption and the match-fixing that now runs rife throughout world cricket. For several years Ed Hawkins made friends with India's illegal bookmakers - men who boast turnover of hundreds of millions of dollars per cricket match - as well as the corruption officers of the International Cricket Council who are trying to shut them down. It's a shady world and rumours abound. But then Hawkins receives a message that changes everything and he decides it is time to expose the truth behind match-fixing. "Bookie Gambler Fixer Spy" is a story featuring politicians, governing bodies, illegal bookmakers and powerless players - as well as corruption, intimidation and even suicide. It is a story that touches all cricket-playing nations around the world. It is a story that every cricket fan must read. You might never again watch a cricket match without suspicion...
- GenresNonfictionSportsIndia
241 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2012
22 people are currently reading
270 people want to read
About the author
Ed Hawkins
13 books4 followersEd Hawkins is an author and journalist, known for his investigative reporting. His work has appeared in The Times, the Guardian, and the Daily Mail.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
January 10, 2013
I watched the India Vs Pakistan World Cup semifinal in the huge conference hall of our B-School where our Dean had arranged for the match to be screened live via projector. It was an amazing night, possible the happiest I've been as an Indian cricket fan, having been born fours year after Kapil Dev's 1983 triumph.
Each time Pakistan dropped a Sachin catch, my heart skipped a beat and my MBA class held its collective breath, and then let it out again. We cursed Wahab Riaz as if he was the scourge of humanity and ran around in circles shouting when we actually won.
But even then, in all that euphoria, someone did let fly that dreaded word - 'fixing'.
Ed Hawkins tackles this head on in a very good, if not brilliant book on the myriad workings of the legal and illegal betting menagerie of the world with a major focus on the Indian bookie, and in the process, gave me an education on the dark side of the game I so love.
I wasn't expecting writing of this order when I ordered the book. But Hawkins shut me up with the passage when he is watching the match live with his Lankan friend, and having received word of what's about to happen, follows the match with a mixture of dread & fascination, still hoping against hope that the message he received is plain false.
It is not. The events unfold like the script he receives and a cricket lover trembles in the agony of the knowledge that his game is tainted. This chapter was easily the best in the book, kept me on edge and struck me enough that I had to comment on the writing. The writing is consistently top class, and reaches a kind of crescendo at the end of the book, when Hawkins tackles what's ailing the ICC and the ACSU, and adds a heartwarming account of the PCA and ECB working together to clean up the county game. Won't say more. Go read the book if you are a cricket lover. You need to.
They call cricket the gentleman's game, and I grew up playing it, in alleys, on barren fields, on matting for my school and on turf pitches for my college, and the game is something i believe in - it taught me honesty, integrity and discipline, it taught me that hard work always pays and when I had the ball in my hand and ran in to bowl with the wind behind me, I became the best version of myself. And so it is for thousands like me.
And that is why it has to be rooted out, exposed, annihilated. Cricket is not the world's game. It is played only in the commonwealth and one of the major reasons for its continued relevance is a cricket crazy Indian subcontinent. The game can ill afford fixing and corruption.
Not to forget the cricket fan, of course. The anonymous boy in a Bangladesh slum listening to a commentator's description of a Sachin straight drive on a borrowed radio deserves better from cricket's administrators and players. I just hope great journalism like what Ed Hawkins has produced steers them in the right direction.
Each time Pakistan dropped a Sachin catch, my heart skipped a beat and my MBA class held its collective breath, and then let it out again. We cursed Wahab Riaz as if he was the scourge of humanity and ran around in circles shouting when we actually won.
But even then, in all that euphoria, someone did let fly that dreaded word - 'fixing'.
Ed Hawkins tackles this head on in a very good, if not brilliant book on the myriad workings of the legal and illegal betting menagerie of the world with a major focus on the Indian bookie, and in the process, gave me an education on the dark side of the game I so love.
I wasn't expecting writing of this order when I ordered the book. But Hawkins shut me up with the passage when he is watching the match live with his Lankan friend, and having received word of what's about to happen, follows the match with a mixture of dread & fascination, still hoping against hope that the message he received is plain false.
It is not. The events unfold like the script he receives and a cricket lover trembles in the agony of the knowledge that his game is tainted. This chapter was easily the best in the book, kept me on edge and struck me enough that I had to comment on the writing. The writing is consistently top class, and reaches a kind of crescendo at the end of the book, when Hawkins tackles what's ailing the ICC and the ACSU, and adds a heartwarming account of the PCA and ECB working together to clean up the county game. Won't say more. Go read the book if you are a cricket lover. You need to.
They call cricket the gentleman's game, and I grew up playing it, in alleys, on barren fields, on matting for my school and on turf pitches for my college, and the game is something i believe in - it taught me honesty, integrity and discipline, it taught me that hard work always pays and when I had the ball in my hand and ran in to bowl with the wind behind me, I became the best version of myself. And so it is for thousands like me.
And that is why it has to be rooted out, exposed, annihilated. Cricket is not the world's game. It is played only in the commonwealth and one of the major reasons for its continued relevance is a cricket crazy Indian subcontinent. The game can ill afford fixing and corruption.
Not to forget the cricket fan, of course. The anonymous boy in a Bangladesh slum listening to a commentator's description of a Sachin straight drive on a borrowed radio deserves better from cricket's administrators and players. I just hope great journalism like what Ed Hawkins has produced steers them in the right direction.
October 29, 2013
Ed Hawkins is a seasoned sports journalist who takes the responsibility of exposing corruption in cricket through this book.
The book is a journalistic account of his endeavours in trying to unearth the truth behind some of the biggest fixes in recent cricket history.
The writing style borders between a memoir and a novel. It is an easy read and Ed Hawkins certainly knows how to begin and end his chapters.
He does manage to bring to the fore the scale of the syndicates that manipulate the betting and fixing rackets but he does a poor job of explaining the methodology of these syndicates.
The writer fails to explain the complicated betting systems and ends up confusing the reader at times.
However, the effort is commendable and there is certainly something to learn from each chapter.
Fans of the sport must read this book but be warned, it could change the way you watch cricket henceforth.
The book is a journalistic account of his endeavours in trying to unearth the truth behind some of the biggest fixes in recent cricket history.
The writing style borders between a memoir and a novel. It is an easy read and Ed Hawkins certainly knows how to begin and end his chapters.
He does manage to bring to the fore the scale of the syndicates that manipulate the betting and fixing rackets but he does a poor job of explaining the methodology of these syndicates.
The writer fails to explain the complicated betting systems and ends up confusing the reader at times.
However, the effort is commendable and there is certainly something to learn from each chapter.
Fans of the sport must read this book but be warned, it could change the way you watch cricket henceforth.
June 16, 2015
I started reading this book hoping that I could get to know a little bit more about the murkier side of the sport I love. This book, however, left me with more unanswered questions than I began with. It postulates that match/spot fixing is common (about 50% of international matches). And it gives a thorough examination of the subject from various perspectives - the ACSU (anti corruption body), the fixers, the sport fan, and even the players. But as with a topic of this nature, it is hard to know what is true and what is not. But you are left with the impression (rather unfortunately) that fixing is rife and a lot of well known players from different countries are involved in fixing. Also, it gives a very bad feeling about domestic matches that are televised including the T20 leagues in different countries. Overall, a book worth reading for the sport lover.
December 20, 2013
Top notch investigative journalism. A must read for cricket fans all around the world.
November 21, 2023
I had seen this positively reviewed by John Crace in a 10 year old Wisden so I was pleasantly surprised to see it in a used bookshop, but despite having its merits it was a long 200 or so pages. The main issue for me was that there wasn't enough factual information to build a book around, with a secondary issue of who Hawkins seemed to take at face value, and those he dismissed.
He started off by visiting an bookmaker in India, where gambling is illegal, and his portrait of the day to day goings on, as well as the hierarchy and how they each make money, was insightful. I expected this to move onto other aspects of gambling and the possibility of fixing, but these portraits were the only detailed ones and in many respects it was suitable for a long magazine feature, rather than a book.
In essence, fixing outcomes is difficult, and spot-fixing in order to bet on peculiar instances is unwise as nobody will take on the bet. Instead, the gambling cartel in India manipulates the odds on Betfair, and single no-balls or wides are profitable as they will move the odds for a score in a given 10-over spell, or 'bracket'. From this starting point, Hawkins analyses the likelihood of fixing in several instances.
The problem is that very few people have been found guilty, and only a few more named, so a lot of the discussion relied on hypotheticals and supposition. The section on the Pakistani no-balls seemed to focus more on the misunderstanding on the nature of betting in the reporting and judgement, rather than the inherent hit to the integrity of the sport. Then a later section is rather pompous in blaming players for taking the money while others are playing for the love of the game.
Hawkins also seemed willing to take the bookmakers he met at their word, which at least one of the investigators put to him. Despite the lack of evidence of many of their claims, and their doing others' bidding, and desperation to get information from him (suggesting weak contacts on their part) he seemed to believe they were fundamentally honest, just taking bets. At one point they could set the odds, at another only the very top brass would fix anything because everyone has to use the odds as directed from the top. I felt he needed to take a step back in his analysis even if the insight had some use.
Then, after rubbishing the idea that you can bet on specific instances, he is completely taken in by a Pakistan-India match with assorted conspiracy theories and barely any circumstancial evidence, for a course of the match which was defined entirely in advance. It's possible, but was entirely different from the other elements of fixing in the book and required complicity from both sides to pull off. It fit a lot of the book, interesting but I don't know how much of it I can take seriously.
He started off by visiting an bookmaker in India, where gambling is illegal, and his portrait of the day to day goings on, as well as the hierarchy and how they each make money, was insightful. I expected this to move onto other aspects of gambling and the possibility of fixing, but these portraits were the only detailed ones and in many respects it was suitable for a long magazine feature, rather than a book.
In essence, fixing outcomes is difficult, and spot-fixing in order to bet on peculiar instances is unwise as nobody will take on the bet. Instead, the gambling cartel in India manipulates the odds on Betfair, and single no-balls or wides are profitable as they will move the odds for a score in a given 10-over spell, or 'bracket'. From this starting point, Hawkins analyses the likelihood of fixing in several instances.
The problem is that very few people have been found guilty, and only a few more named, so a lot of the discussion relied on hypotheticals and supposition. The section on the Pakistani no-balls seemed to focus more on the misunderstanding on the nature of betting in the reporting and judgement, rather than the inherent hit to the integrity of the sport. Then a later section is rather pompous in blaming players for taking the money while others are playing for the love of the game.
Hawkins also seemed willing to take the bookmakers he met at their word, which at least one of the investigators put to him. Despite the lack of evidence of many of their claims, and their doing others' bidding, and desperation to get information from him (suggesting weak contacts on their part) he seemed to believe they were fundamentally honest, just taking bets. At one point they could set the odds, at another only the very top brass would fix anything because everyone has to use the odds as directed from the top. I felt he needed to take a step back in his analysis even if the insight had some use.
Then, after rubbishing the idea that you can bet on specific instances, he is completely taken in by a Pakistan-India match with assorted conspiracy theories and barely any circumstancial evidence, for a course of the match which was defined entirely in advance. It's possible, but was entirely different from the other elements of fixing in the book and required complicity from both sides to pull off. It fit a lot of the book, interesting but I don't know how much of it I can take seriously.
May 4, 2020
A fascinating and very well researched insight into the world of illegal betting and match fixing in cricket. What Hawkins does is provide a deep-dive into the shady ecosystem of gambling that operates alongside professional cricket.
Don't expect a name and shame expose, libel laws prevent that, but rather he unpicks the business of how illegal betting, from the all powerful syndicates to local operatives, its methods, the characters within it and the scale and force it has on the game. And in doing so, explains why it cannot be stopped.
You won't watch a game of cricket in quite the same way again.
Don't expect a name and shame expose, libel laws prevent that, but rather he unpicks the business of how illegal betting, from the all powerful syndicates to local operatives, its methods, the characters within it and the scale and force it has on the game. And in doing so, explains why it cannot be stopped.
You won't watch a game of cricket in quite the same way again.
June 21, 2022
A look into corruption and match fixing in cricket.
There were some revelations in this book and also a lot of things that would require more proof to be fact. The journalistic standard is very high and the writing style kept this reader interested.
What I thought when reading it was about my grandfather. He passed away in 2019 and loved his cricket. A match mentioned in the book was a particular favourite of his and now I know it was corrupted I feel it is better off that he never knew that.
There were some revelations in this book and also a lot of things that would require more proof to be fact. The journalistic standard is very high and the writing style kept this reader interested.
What I thought when reading it was about my grandfather. He passed away in 2019 and loved his cricket. A match mentioned in the book was a particular favourite of his and now I know it was corrupted I feel it is better off that he never knew that.
November 9, 2020
A fascinating look inside the murky world of India's illegal gambling industry
As a lifelong cricket fan, the revelations in this book shocked me. The author travelled throughout India in the course of his research, exposing a vast and highly-organised illegal gambling network as he does so.
The marketing behind the book suggests that you "may never watch a cricket match the same again". I, for one, certainly won't! A must-read for all cricket lovers.
As a lifelong cricket fan, the revelations in this book shocked me. The author travelled throughout India in the course of his research, exposing a vast and highly-organised illegal gambling network as he does so.
The marketing behind the book suggests that you "may never watch a cricket match the same again". I, for one, certainly won't! A must-read for all cricket lovers.
June 24, 2024
One horrific typo ('prominant' for prominent) brought me up short, but this was incisive journalism from the early 2010s where Ed, an expert in cricket odds, went to the source of the problem. He shows his working, and ends up frustrated and resigned to things not changing. A decade on, there does seem that less corruption is being reported, so something must have been done.
May 23, 2020
This book gives a good idea about structure of illegal Indian gambling industry and how it works, available bets, spot fixes and their love for match related information. It's well written but the details are limited.
June 10, 2021
Doesn’t really drop any bombshells about corruption and illegal gambling within cricket, but does thoroughly and painstakingly highlight where the problem actually is, rather than where the authorities believe it to be and are looking for it.
November 11, 2018
Good time pass book for cricket fans.
February 23, 2019
Well researched report on the world of match fixing.
February 8, 2020
Will make you question everything you think you know about sport.
January 18, 2022
Fantastic story and envious deep dive into the world of gambling and more importantly match fixing in India and around the world. Recommend for any sports fan no matter the knowledge of cricket.
January 9, 2015
I particularly liked the style of writing which is more fiction like. The drama, the pace and the brisk narrative of a fiction is felt through the entire book inspite of being a non fiction. The author has interviewed book makers, players, administrators, security agencies and tried to figure out how much tainted the game of cricket is. The instances of spot fixing and other already proven offences have been discussed. Further, the betting markets and its nuances, especially in India are being described very well. Also, the famous, or rather infamous World Cup 2011 semi final between India and Pakistan at Mohali is being post mortemed. The cricket fans all over the world know that there was more to the game than what meets the eye and the author has gone into great depths for proving the same. Only disappointment, and a big one at that is that the author has not revealed the names of many 'compromised' players which he has come across in his investigation, perhaps out of fear of libel or defamation suits in case nothing is proven against the players.
January 24, 2014
This is an important book that has it's say in the illegal betting market, it's perceived arrogance and it's features. As a cricket lover, you are bound to be shocked with the details. Skip this book if you are a paranoid. But you shouldn't be. You should know about the game you love. You are back to the ground reality and it helps you understand the various fixing/betting scandals which were publicised. For example, the Gurunath of CSK. The whole issue is made clear with a single quote 'Every information is money' Obviously as a team owner he passed on informations to help his friends in the industry. So did he manipulate the games? Only he knows. Anyway this book is a must read just to know the plight of the game we love. After all legalising betting in India might help. God save cricket.
July 22, 2014
An exhaustive account on how the Indian and international cricket bookie network functions.... Spun with some dark humor, this documentary-like walk-through sometimes chills our spines and makes the reader guffaw at the "spirit of the game" at times.... Also gives insights on the lingo used by the bookies while a match is on and those were really interesting.... some hard to digest facts and shocking revelations makes the book a page turner....
January 25, 2016
After having read this book i too doubt whether i would watch any cricket match with same enthusiasm and not think "is this scripted match?" or "is this fixed?"
Well written book and daringly well researched ;-). at times it felt bit biased or inclined towards sub-continent nations.
Cant help but notice that author was really obsessed with India Vs Pakistan 2011 ICC World Cup semi-final's match. Now even i am piqued to find what really happened :-D
Well written book and daringly well researched ;-). at times it felt bit biased or inclined towards sub-continent nations.
Cant help but notice that author was really obsessed with India Vs Pakistan 2011 ICC World Cup semi-final's match. Now even i am piqued to find what really happened :-D
December 23, 2012
Excellent book. As the title suggests, the author worked hard to look at corruption in cricket from the perspective of Indian bookies and gamblers, the ICC and the Pakistani government. Very modern and mainly focuses on Pakistan's loss to India in the 2011 World Cup. It is a disturbing but necessary read for cricket fans.
March 4, 2013
The language used by Ed Hawkins throughout this book was fantastic, although I would have liked it if there was less of a direct translation of the English spoken by Vinay and Parthiv. Also, the book reveals what most of the cricketing audience is already aware of - that betting and spot-fixing does exist - and no concrete evidence has been provided yet. Kudos for the research though
April 5, 2014
Very interesting expose of the darkness at the heart of cricket. Very good points made about the News of the World spot fixing scandal and the inability to actually bet on individual no balls.
At its heart the book is a call to arms to those who want to see match fixing eliminated. Will it be listened to? Time will tell.
Thoroughly recommend it to anyone who cares about sport or betting.
At its heart the book is a call to arms to those who want to see match fixing eliminated. Will it be listened to? Time will tell.
Thoroughly recommend it to anyone who cares about sport or betting.
October 4, 2013
Fascinating read. But in the end, the content makes me sad. I am a huge fan of the sport and cannot forget the game central to this book (WC 2011 India v/s Pakistan). The fact that this match maybe "fixed" is gut wrenching.
July 18, 2013
It's well written and researched. Though it doesn't bring forth facts we already didn't know.
October 2, 2013
The part where he travels to India to meet bookies is great, rest is well-trodden information. Don't expect blockbuster revelations, just a rundown of how the market for spot-fixes works.
July 25, 2016
Illuminating and scary, but as a book it's simply an extended newspaper article. Definitely worth the read, though.
July 8, 2014
well researched book on cricket betting in India
August 1, 2014
It is very very hard not to get cynical about cricket after reading this. But I shall prevail.
August 10, 2016
This book is well written.. I ain't any cricket fan but this book kept me hooked . It opened can of worms.. Very interesting and loved reading.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews