Besides Verma, the FIR was lodged against Syed Mohammand Hussain Rizvi and Laxmikant by the players, police said.
The players alleged that they were told by the organisers of the UP Twenty20 cricket league that the event was being held by the state government and was also affiliated to the UP Cricket Association.
The players had allegedly given about Rs 2.4 lakh to the organisers to participate in the tournament but when they reached Lucknow they found that they were duped.
The players were also told that they have been selected for a tournament in England.
According to the players, Verma was the patron of the organising committee.
The FIR was registered after the players handed over an application at the 'Janta Darshan' programme of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav yesterday.
The players also alleged that local police was trying to hush up the case and the FIR was registered only after they went to the Janta Darshan programme. PTI ABN PG DV
