GANG MADE FAKE CRICKET LEAGUE TO CON GAMBLERS

Con men set up an elaborate fake Indian Premier League tournament using farm labourers posing as cricketers to dupe Russian gamblers, according to police.

The hustlers received thousands of dollars from Russians who believed they were watching real matches streamed online.

The counterfeit matches were played not in India's mega stadiums, but on a remote farm in Molipur village of Gujarat's Mehsana district. Gang members had become acquainted with Russian betting circles while working in the country and installed a cricket pitch, complete with “boundary lines and halogen lamps,” police inspector Bhavesh Rathod told reporters.

“Besides this, the accused had set up high resolution cameras on the ground and used computer generated graphics to display scores on a livestreaming screen,” he added. Crowd noise effects were downloaded from the internet.

Labourers and unemployed youths were hired for 400 rupees ($6.50) per match and the contests were broadcast live over a Youtube channel called “IPL.”

The cameraman made sure no wide shots were ever broadcast. A fake commentator from Meerut with a knack for mimicking Harsha Bhogle, one of IPL'S real commentators, was used to make the tournament appear authentic.

Players took turns to wear jerseys of the Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans, police said, acting on the instructions of the plot's ringleader, who was based in Russia.