India cricket board suspends five 'corrupt' IPL players

Indian cricket officials have suspended five players pending an inquiry into corruption allegations against them.

The IPL governing council has suspended five players named by a sting operation alleging corruption until an inquiry into the accusations is conducted. TP Sudhindra (Deccan Chargers), Mohnish Mishra (Pune Warriors), Shalabh Srivastava (Kings XI Punjab), Amit Yadav (Kings XI Punjab) and Abhinav Bali were suspended, according to IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla.
The move came after a sting by undercover TV reporters purported to show the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricketers agreeing to bowl no-balls and spot-fix matches.

The cricketers are also heard alleging that team owners often paid them large sums of money illegally.

One of the players has said the allegations against him are false.

He said he plans to sue the India TV channel, which broadcast the footage on Monday night.

The scandal is the latest to affect cricket. Last year three top Pakistani players were found guilty of involvement in a betting scam.

The decision to suspend the five Indian players - who are all uncapped and play for a variety of teams - was taken after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) saw footage from the India TV "sting" operation.

"We have no tolerance towards any form of corruption," BCCI chief N Srinivasan said.

"We will ensure that the integrity of the game is protected. BCCI believes in the integrity of the game."

Former ICC anti-corruption chief Ravi Sawani will lead the inquiry into "the involvement of players in illegal activities or activities against the interests of the BCCI and the game", a statement said.

The fifth season of the IPL, which is considered to be the world's showcase for Twenty20 cricket, is currently under way in India.

Top Indian and international players take part, contributing to what is the world's richest cricket tournament.Another player from Deccan Chargers, TP Sudhindra is also under the scanner for having been caught on camera accepting bribes for a domestic match. Although there is no proof that the 28-year-old pacer from Madhya Pradesh has taken money during the course of IPL, he however was caught on camera asking Rs 40,000 to bowl a no-ball during an Indore T20 League match.

As per the deal, the player who took 40 wickets for his state in the 2011-12 season, did bowl a huge no-ball off the second delivery of his first over. Yet surprisingly, Sudhindra was allowed to play for Deccan Charges and he took a wicket as well from his three outings in the tournament. Sudhindra has played 27 first-class matches and has 108 wickets to his name with a best of 7/48.

While the IPL Governing Council has called an emergency meeting today, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has taken a grim view of the matter and has asked for the footage of the said video.


"Some TV channels have been reporting a story pertaining to alleged unacceptable practices by players participating in the IPL. The BCCI will not tolerate any violation of regulations and any act of corruption," BCCI's secretary Sanjay Jagdale said in a statement.


"The complete footage of the 'sting operation,' will be sought, and examined thoroughly. The GC will meet on an emergent basis to review the footage and take appropriate strict action," he added.


BCCI chief N Srinivasan said,"We will ensure that the integrity of the game is protected. BCCI believes in the integrity of the game. We will take the strictest possible action. We will have to have the tapes and the moment we see it, whoever is the player, we will take very very strict action."


"If there is any truth in it... It is a fact that we will take strictest action. Even if it means suspending the player immediately. But (that has to be) based on some evidence and fact, for which I have asked the COO of IPL Sundar Raman to request for the tape," he said.


Srinivasan said he has asked the Governing Council of the IPL so that in the morning there will be a tele-conferencing of the governing council to go into this matter. "We will act to show that this is not tolerated."


"IPL, we believe is clean. We have got the Anti-Corruption Unit covering it. They are the in-change of the security. We have got Ravi Swami, who was heading BCCI's Anti-Corruption Unit to take it up for us."