8216;Big catch8217; to police: More cricketers involved

Police have confirmed that Yahya has taken the names of other players apart from those currently under custody S Sreesanth,Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan. Among them are players who have represented the country.

Yahya,a native of Hyderabad,was arrested from the Rajiv Gandhi International airport at Hyderabad on Friday morning while he was on his way to board a Dubai-bound flight.

Delhi police sources said that Yahya alias Yusuf is the main link to the remaining set of players who have come under the scanner. Yahya had worked as a spot boy in Mumbai with prominent film stars such as Dilip Kumar,Bonny Kapoor and Sridevi in the 1980s.

Investigators said that Yahya was well-known to people from different genres,including Bollywood actors and cricketers. Police sources said arrested bookies such as Chandresh Patel approached players through Yahya.

Police said Yahya has links with the underworld and was on his way to meet some of his associates in Dubai when he was arrrested. The investigators are currently in the process of gathering more information about the extent of involvement of the players Yahya has named and will proceed only after that to question them. Meanwhile,police refuted claims that team owners were also involved in the scandal.

Police also said it was one of Patels contacts who introduced him to Yahya who assured the contact that he knows somebody and that he could help. Patel approached Yahya in order to contact players other teams apart from Rajasthan,they said.

Meanwhile,the BCCI has written to the Delhi Police again requesting for more information on the players.