liza Malik
WhoIJ An aspiring model from Haryana, she shot to fame when she proposed to Harbhajan Singh on national TV. “It’s unbelievable how people still remember that bachkana harqat. I don’t follow cricket but admire cricketers. They are dashing men. Bhajji and I were casual friends but after a while we lost touch. I see him in newspapers now and smile to myself,” Malik says. Malik was voted out of Dancing Queen, on Colors in 2010, her bravado won her stardom.
On spot fixing: Eight months after I wrapped up the reality show, I was holidaying with friends in Thailand. Someone called Razz from UK called me and said he would pay me Rs50 lakh to convince Bhajji to fix an over. I was amazed he thought I could help. I don’t have any bookie friends. He knew my address and my parents’ whereabouts too. He threatened to kill me and harm my family if I didn’t fix up the meeting with Bhajji. He wrongly thought we were dating each other. I returned and reported it to the police.
The woman’s role: Players seek sex with reputed models in exchange to throw a match.
On the current scandal: I have no idea how this functions. I keep away from cricket.
Veena Malik
WhoIJ The Pakistani actress became a name in India after her stint with Bigg Boss Season 4 in 2010. Shortly afterwards, she was named in match fixing scandal. Malik accused Dheeraj Dixit, Delhi-based cricketer-photographer, of being the bookie who paid her ex-boyfriend Mohammad Asif to throw away a match. Dixit threatened to sue her but hasn’t till now. He claimed that it was actually Malik who managed seven key Pakistani cricketers and had told him that she could strike a deal. She did not name them but assured him that Pakistan would lose the series with Australia, Sri lanka and England. Pakistan did.
On spot fixing: I paid a price for falling in love with the wrong person. Asif and I were good together but I had no idea he was involved in fixing. When I realised, I became whistleblower. I have always spoken up.
Woman’s role: Most players fix for extra income. Not all are from moneyed backgrounds. Bookies have ways to lure such players. Players love to be with women. But fixing is still a man’s thing.
On current scandal: I am busy with an ad campaign so don’t know much about this row. But, a law is needed and a strong monitoring system should be in place to curb the evil. The IPl format is fodder for bookies.
Nupur Mehta
WhoIJ This small-time model was questioned by ICC sleuth in 2012 after a UK daily said she was close to Indian and Pakistani players during the 2011 World Cup and part of a syndicate. But she was cleared later.
On spot fixing: I was in london during T20 World Cup 2010. I met a few players at a pub. I didn’t know anyone personally and nor was I connected with any syndicate. I am tired of being dragged into controversies. There are many girls who idolise cricketers, why aren’t they questionedIJ
The woman’s role: A woman can’t be kingpin. It’s not true that cricketers seek sex for fixing.
— Deebashree Mohanty