New Delhi, Jun 30: Five uncapped Indian players were today banned by the Indian Cricket Board in the wake of India TV sting operation which had exposed corruption in the cash-rich IPL.
The strong action to ban Mohnish Mishra, Shalabh Srivastava, T P Sudhindra, Amit Yadav and Abhinav Bali was taken after a lengthy meeting of top BCCI officials and members of the IPL's Governing Council.
The BCCI imposed a life ban on pacer T P Sudhindra but handed lighter punishments to four other domestic players who were also exposed in the sting operation.
The decision to ban the players for varying degrees was taken by the BCCI's disciplinary committee, headed by its president N Srinivasan, which met here to discuss the report submitted by Ravi Sawani on the matter.
While the 28-year-old Sudhindra was the worst hit as his career seems all but over, Shalabh Srivastav was banned for five years.
Mohnish Mishra, Amit Yadav and Abhinav Bali were banned for a year each, according to BCCI sources.
The television sting operation had shown that they agreed to shadowy deals in the Indian Premier League and other matches.
Three of the five players—Sudhindra, Mishra and Bali were attended the meeting today to present their points of view before the panel whose other members are Board vice-presidents Arun Jaitely and Niranjan Shah.
Five uncapped Indian cricketers were caught indulging in corrupt practices, including spot-fixing, by India TV channel which conducted a sting operation during this year's IPL.
BCCI had asked its Anti-Corruption Unit chief Ravi Sawani to conduct a probe in the matter and he submitted his report to Srinivasan a few weeks back.
Media Release: Disciplinary Committee Meeting
Date: 30th June 2012
Media Release
The Disciplinary Committee of the BCCI, comprising Mr. N. Srinivasan, Mr. Arun Jaitley and Mr. Niranjan Shah met at the Cricket Centre earlier today.
The Committee perused the report of Mr. Ravi Sawani, the Commisioner of Inquiry. The Committee also accorded a personal hearing to T. Sudhindra, Abhinav Bali and Mohnish Mishra. Shalabh Srivastava and Amit Yadav pleaded their respective cases through teleconference.
After considering Mr. Sawani's report and the pleadings by the players, the Disciplinary Committee decided the penalties as follows:
T. SUDHINDRA
The Committee held Sudhindra guilty of actually receiving a consideration to spot-fix in a domestic cricket match, and hence imposed exemplary penalty on him.
Sudhindra has been debarred for life, from playing any cricket matches conducted or authorized by the ICC or BCCI, or any affiliated unit of the BCCI.
He will not be entitled to the monthly gratis, benevolent fund, benefit match or any other facility, in lieu of.
He cannot hold any position in any cricket association affiliated to the BCCI, for life.
SHALABH SRIVASTAVA
Shalabh Srivastava was held guilty of agreeing to fix a match and negotiate terms for the same, even though no actual match-fixing or spot fixing took place.
He has been debarred for a period of five years, from playing any cricket matches conducted or authorized by the ICC or BCCI, or any affiliated unit of the BCCI.
He will not be entitled to the monthly gratis, benevolent fund, benefit matches or any other facility, during this period.
He cannot hold any position in any cricket association affiliated to the BCCI, for a period of five years.
MOHNISH MISHRA
AMIT YADAV
ABHINAV BALI
The three players, through loose talk and unsubstantiated bragging, brought the game into disrepute, and hence, have been held guilty of the lesser offence.
They have been debarred for a period of one year, from playing any cricket matches conducted or authorized by the ICC or BCCI, or any affiliated unit of the BCCI.
The penalties will be effective from the date of the suspension of the players – 15 May 2012.
Sanjay Jagdale
Hony. Secretary
BCCI
