Bookmakers have marked the 2019 International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup clash between India and Pakistan as the biggest fixture of the tournament.

India are the favourites in the encounter. The match itself is expected to raise bets worth a billion rupees.

In order to escape Police crackdowns, bookmakers have taken up residence in secure locations and even changed their numbers.

In an event where all teams are scheduled to play against each other, bookmakers have clearly described this encounter as the most integral fixture of the mega event.

Lahore based bookmaker ‘Mian Sahab’ told Express Tribune that even though most matches have succumbed to rain, the Indo-Pak clash is expected to be played in its entirety.

India is the favourite with a rate of 50 paisa. This implies that a successful bet of PKR 1000 on India winning would fetch an individual a pay-off of PKR500.

The rate for a Pakistan victory is PKR 2. A successful bet of PKR 1000 on a Pakistan win would fetch an individual a pay-off of PKR 2000.

The weather itself is the subject of bets as well. The chances of rain are high; however the rate of a washout is 20 paisa.

A successful bet of PKR1000 on the match being completely played would fetch an individual a pay-off worth PKR200 whereas a successful bet of PKR1000 on a washout would fetch a pay-off of PKR4000.

According to Bookmaker ‘Mian Sahib’, batsmen Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are favourites to score the highest amount of runs for India whereas batsmen Babar Azam and Mohammad Hafeez are favourites to score the highest amount of runs for Pakistan.

In the Bowling department pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuveneshwar Kumar are favourites to take the highest number of wickets from India, whereas pacers Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz are favourites for Pakistan.

The bets will start from the toss and will end at the final scoreline of the match.

Bookmakers also claimed that the rates at the start of the match are not fixed and are subject to fluctuations with the score and subsequent fall of wickets.

The police on the other hand have formulated plans to crack down on bookmakers. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations, Ismail Kharak told Express Tribune that bookmakers who are trying to take bets for India-Pakistan match will be arrested at all cost.

He said that the Police had been instructed to utilise cell phone locators for the purpose. Police personnel have also been asked to recheck people who were arrested previously for betting as well.

Kharak said that bookmakers usually reside in residential areas for brief periods of time in rented places of one room in order to conduct their operations. The local residents therefore have been asked to immediately report any crimes to their local police department.