adminNEW DELHI. – Cricket’s Indian Premier League was thrown into turmoil yesterday when a Supreme Court-appointed panel suspended two of the eight teams after officials were found guilty of illegally betting on matches.
Chennai Super Kings, led by India’s one-day international captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and Rajasthan Royals, skippered by star Australian batsman Steve Smith, had been hoping to escape with heavy fines.
But a tribunal led by former chief justice Rajendra Mal Lodha announced they would be banned from the next two editions of the annual six-week tournament to protect “the integrity of the game.”
Gurunath Meiyappan – the son-in-law of Narayanaswami Srinivasan, the Chennai franchise owner and the current boss of the International Cricket Council – was banned for life from cricket-related activities.
A similar punishment was handed down to Raj Kundra, co-owner of the Rajasthan team and husband of Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty.
“Their conduct has affected the image of the game, the players and others associated with the tournament,” Lodha told reporters while revealing his three-member panel’s verdict in the capital New Delhi.
Asked about the financial losses of players from the two teams, Lodha said: “We did not consider financial losses to players and teams. That is not significant. The integrity of the game is what matters.”
The outcome could have major financial consequences for the glitzy Twenty20 league which draws some of the biggest names in world cricket and raises questions over the future of the two franchises which are both former champions.
It was not immediately clear whether the two franchises can be sold, thus allowing the cricketers to continue to be part of the IPL.
There was also no immediate reaction from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
“Huge injury has been caused to the image of cricket which is a passion for millions of people,” Lodha said.
“They (Meiyappan and and Kundra) have brought the game to disrepute.” – AFP.
Online Reporter