Channel reveals murky deals

A TV channel claimed to have blown the lid off “murky deals” in the IPL among players, organisers, owners and big guns of Indian cricket, prompting the BCCI to warn that stringent action will be taken if the report is found to be true.

The channel, India TV, claimed it had done a sting operation in which many players confessed that they get much more than their prescribed auction money.

The channel claimed that an IPL player confessed that he was getting Rs. 1.45 crore from its owner though he was in the Rs. 30 lakh slab.

Another player demanded Rs. 10 lakh for bowling a no-ball in an IPL match, it said.

Fixing games

According to the channel, its operation also revealed that spot-fixing is not only prevalent in the IPL but also that first-class matches are fixed and women played an important role in match-fixing.

The superstars of Indian cricket and even an international player, who is a captain of one of the teams, were involved in fixing the matches, the channel said in a statement.

Asked about the sting operation, BCCI chief N. Srinivasan said, “We will ensure that the integrity of the game is protected. The 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 strict action.”