Unfair to say IPL shouldn't continue: N Srinivasan
"It's
not like players are not getting enough money. So, it's not a question
of inadequate compensation. You can call it greed," Srinivasan said.
MUMBAI: While the BCCI's million-dollar baby -- its eyeball-grabbing
Twenty20 league -- appears to attract more unsavoury elements with each
passing season, the cricket board says it is unfair to call the
tournament "untenable" because of a few "bad eggs".
Board president N Srinivasan, who is himself the chairman and managing director of a company that owns a Twenty20 franchise, left everything else aside on Thursday to address the media as soon as the spot-fixing scandal involving cricketers S Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila broke early on Thursday morning.
Calling the incident "truly sad", Srinivasan said, "We thought when we made an example last year (of the five cricketers) that the message was clear and people would not indulge in such things. We will take whatever steps necessary for people to understand this is a serious matter and they can get into trouble."
He was referring to the five cricketers -- TP Sudhindra, Mohnish Mishra, Abhinav Bali, Shalabh Srivastava and Amit Yadav -- who were suspended and banned for life after a television channel exposed them for accepting money to spot-fix performances in 2012. However, it seems like the lure of money has been far bigger than the punishments that BCCI has threatened the players with, and that, Srinivasan said is a simple matter of "greed".
"It's not like players are not getting enough money. So, it's not a question of inadequate compensation. You can call it greed," he said.
Srinivasan also said that to see a Test cricketer getting involved in this mess was truly shocking. "We have an anti-corruption code, the anti-doping code and we have also advised state units on steps to be taken. One of them is a Test player (referring to Sreesanth) and that is what is shocking," he said. "We acted the moment we got information that Delhi police had arrested the three players. Apparently an FIR has been filed but we haven't seen it. We have extended all co-operation to police and other agencies if they want any information from us."
The image of the entire tournament has come into serious question after Delhi police's expose on how the three cricketers went about trying to spot-fix performances. Further, allegations that around 70 cricketers were closely monitored by the police and that a few others may also be involved in the controversy has been doing the rounds.
However, Srinivasan -- who addressed the media hours after the controversy broke -- denied that the tournament's image was getting tarnished.
"I am as sad as all my colleagues in the BCCI, that a player who played Tests for India is involved. But that does not mean that the entire game is corrupt. I do not agree at all. I do not agree the tournament cannot continue. We will take all steps to root out this kind of corruption," he said, adding that he wouldn't agree with the idea of making a sweeping statement that the entire tournament is untenable.
The BCCI chief says the Delhi police has given the board no information yet if there are any other players involved. But as far as the three detained players are concerned, action will be taken as per the rules and procedures and keeping in mind that natural justice has to be preserved. "If more information comes to the BCCI (about involvement of other players), we will take immediate action," he said.
Board president N Srinivasan, who is himself the chairman and managing director of a company that owns a Twenty20 franchise, left everything else aside on Thursday to address the media as soon as the spot-fixing scandal involving cricketers S Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila broke early on Thursday morning.
Calling the incident "truly sad", Srinivasan said, "We thought when we made an example last year (of the five cricketers) that the message was clear and people would not indulge in such things. We will take whatever steps necessary for people to understand this is a serious matter and they can get into trouble."
He was referring to the five cricketers -- TP Sudhindra, Mohnish Mishra, Abhinav Bali, Shalabh Srivastava and Amit Yadav -- who were suspended and banned for life after a television channel exposed them for accepting money to spot-fix performances in 2012. However, it seems like the lure of money has been far bigger than the punishments that BCCI has threatened the players with, and that, Srinivasan said is a simple matter of "greed".
"It's not like players are not getting enough money. So, it's not a question of inadequate compensation. You can call it greed," he said.
Srinivasan also said that to see a Test cricketer getting involved in this mess was truly shocking. "We have an anti-corruption code, the anti-doping code and we have also advised state units on steps to be taken. One of them is a Test player (referring to Sreesanth) and that is what is shocking," he said. "We acted the moment we got information that Delhi police had arrested the three players. Apparently an FIR has been filed but we haven't seen it. We have extended all co-operation to police and other agencies if they want any information from us."
The image of the entire tournament has come into serious question after Delhi police's expose on how the three cricketers went about trying to spot-fix performances. Further, allegations that around 70 cricketers were closely monitored by the police and that a few others may also be involved in the controversy has been doing the rounds.
However, Srinivasan -- who addressed the media hours after the controversy broke -- denied that the tournament's image was getting tarnished.
"I am as sad as all my colleagues in the BCCI, that a player who played Tests for India is involved. But that does not mean that the entire game is corrupt. I do not agree at all. I do not agree the tournament cannot continue. We will take all steps to root out this kind of corruption," he said, adding that he wouldn't agree with the idea of making a sweeping statement that the entire tournament is untenable.
The BCCI chief says the Delhi police has given the board no information yet if there are any other players involved. But as far as the three detained players are concerned, action will be taken as per the rules and procedures and keeping in mind that natural justice has to be preserved. "If more information comes to the BCCI (about involvement of other players), we will take immediate action," he said.
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