Caught Out: Crime. Corruption. Cricket

Pretty good intro to the cricket betting scandal of 2000. I knew absolutely nothing about this and this doc is a great small intro to the people involved and the corruption. They focus on India mostly and their giant stars getting caughts betting on their own matches then throwing international games. Of course there are bookies involved and an Indian gang and huge mob boss controlling this all internationally. Bookies seek out lower ranked players and give them a bit money over the years then at some point ask them to lose a match on purpose. They will give them alcohol, women, money. Once they have dirt on them they ask them to bring big players to them. This doc shows how one retired player started talking about bribes on his matches in the media, likely to make a name for himself and become a hero in the media. Soon a cricket org is set up in India to look into this. They look into all criminal bookies in India. But only after South Africa find out their legendary players took bribes and those players get banned, sued, and drop names does India get anywhere. One criminal bookie is mentioned in South Africa. He confesses it all to the Indian org. A legendary Indian player then confesses too as he sees they have everything on him even who bought his sim card and where he shopped in UK. Apparently a bookie pays for it all.

But fixing matches is not a crime in India. All the players who were banned countersue and after their careers are long over they are unbanned. The bookies also go free. Sport orgs can ban players if they see fit, but it has to be a clear rule break and India seems to protect rich people and legendary players. In South Africa and other countries players seemed to be fully punished.

The episode topic is good with great interviews. It's way too dark though. Many settings are dark rooms with nothing in the background and are dull as heck. They also use a flashy doc style instead of letting the drama be the center focus. I liked everything Indian here and disliked everything flashy and Americanized. The doc is lazily made and ugly as heck. But the topic and interviews are very cool. And the Indian culture is amazing on screen.