The cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL) is back in the news for wrong reasons. This time it is for the arrest of three Rajasthan Royals cricketers ufffd S Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan ufffd for their alleged involvement in spot fixing during the ongoing sixth edition of the tournament.
While the credibility of Brand IPL is at an all-time low, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president N Srinivasan said the ‘dirty’ cricketers have let down the people and not the IPL.
N Srinivasan
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“IPL has not let down people, it is the dirty cricketers who have let down people. We feel bad that such a thing has happened. But I don’t have to personally apologise as long as people can see that we are acting against the problem,” Srinivasan told CNN IBN in an interview.u00a0“We are really shocked. I have no words to condemn what has happened. We want it never to happen again. We are an honest organisation,” he insisted.
Srinivasan, in fact, lost his composure when he was repeatedly questioned on the IPL’s credibility. “For the last two days, everybody has asked me the same question but I would say, it is the biggest tournament in the world, we should be proud of.u00a0“The point I am making is that everybody is berating IPL saying that IPL is finished. But I am saying that yes, players have been arrested andu00a0naturally it will haveu00a0some impact.
IPL is not finished
“Not only does it worry me but I have to sit here and listen that IPL finished. Three players have done something is wrong but the entire IPL is not bad,” added Srinivasan, who is the owner of Chennai Super Kings.
Warning signs ignored
When asked whether the BCCI ignored warnings from the ICC, Srinivasan said: “Excuse me, ICC is in charge of it (IPL) and they are supposed take steps to prevent fixing. Whatever has been specifically requested has been dealt with by the BCCI. We are not going to keep quiet.”
On being asked whether the BCCI would file a case against the arrested players, he said: “If permitted, we will file a criminal case against them.”
The BCCI boss promised a fair enquiry and insisted that nothing would be brushed under the carpet. “If there is a fault and something that has been overlooked we will not cover it up. We will get to the bottom of it,” he assured.
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