Over two-and-a-half years after he was arrested by Delhi Police for his alleged involvement in the 2013 IPL spot-fixing, former Rajasthan Royals off-spinner Ajit Chandila has been banned for life from all cricket activities by the BCCI.Former Mumbai batsman Hiken Shah, who had been suspended by the cricket board for “making an approach” to a Ranji team mate to fix a game, was given a five-year ban.
The decisions were taken after the BCCI disciplinary committee comprising president Shashank Manohar, Jyotiraditya Scindia and Niranjan Shah met in Mumbai yesterday..
The committee gave the ex-ICC elite panel umpire from Pakistan Asad Rauf, who was allegedly in contact with bookmaker Vindu Dara Singh, “a final opportunity to submit his written statement” before February 9.
The BCCI has a ‘zero tolerance’ policy towards corruption and punishments for Chandila and Shah were in line with its efforts to clean-up the game.
A member of the disciplinary committee, however, bemoaned the transgressions made by the players. “Indian players are so well looked after. They are handsomely paid by the board/(IPL) franchises. It’s unfortunate that some of them still chose the wrong path. Maybe it’s down to greed.
Lack of proper education could be a reason as well but Hiken Shah looked to have a decent educational background when he appeared before the committee. I think it’s a mental problem,” said the committee member on condition of anonymity. (Press Trust of India).