Sanjay Raut Alleges ₹1.5 Lakh Crore Bet on India-Pak Match

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut has ignited a firestorm of controversy, alleging that a staggering Rs 1.5 lakh crore was gambled on Sunday’s high-stakes India-Pakistan Asia Cup cricket match. In a bombshell claim, Raut asserted that Rs 25,000 crore of this amount went to Pakistan, with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) pocketing Rs 1,000 crore from the match alone. Speaking to reporters on Monday, he warned that these funds could be used against India, raising serious questions about oversight by the government and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

“Gambling of Rs 1.5 lakh crore took place in yesterday’s match, and Rs 25,000 crore went to Pakistan. This money will be used against us. Doesn’t the government or BCCI know this?” Raut charged, accusing authorities of turning a blind eye to the massive betting racket. The allegations come amid heightened tensions following India’s seven-wicket victory, which ended on a contentious note when Indian players refused the customary post-match handshake with their Pakistani counterparts.

Raut, whose party had opposed the match due to geopolitical tensions, labeled the handshake refusal a “farce” and suggested it was a premeditated decision, not a spontaneous act. Sources indicate the Indian team’s collective decision was endorsed by a key member of the support staff and approved by the BCCI, reflecting the strained relations between the two nations. The match proceeded despite calls for a boycott, fueled by the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and India’s subsequent ‘Operation Sindoor’ on May 7, targeting terrorist bases across the border.

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The Shiv Sena leader’s claims have sparked widespread debate, with critics questioning the scale of the alleged gambling and its potential links to funding anti-India activities. The Asia Cup clash, a highly anticipated event drawing millions of viewers, has long been a hotbed for betting syndicates, but Raut’s figures—if accurate—point to an unprecedented scale of illegal activity. He urged authorities to investigate how such vast sums could flow unchecked and called for stricter measures to curb gambling in cricket.

The handshake controversy further intensified the match’s fallout, with social media abuzz over the Indian team’s snub. While some praised the move as a stand against Pakistan amid ongoing tensions, others criticized it as unsportsmanlike, arguing it tarnished the spirit of the game. Raut, however, dismissed the gesture’s significance, claiming it was a calculated move to signal India’s stance rather than a genuine reaction.

As the dust settles on the match, Raut’s allegations have cast a shadow over the BCCI and the government, raising questions about their ability to regulate cricket’s financial underbelly. The Asia Cup, meant to celebrate regional sporting talent, has instead become a flashpoint for political and economic concerns, with Raut’s claims amplifying calls for transparency and accountability in one of the world’s most-watched sporting rivalries.

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