Former BCCI president Sharad Pawar on Wednesday demanded a Home Ministry inquiry into all the 75 matches of the scandal-hit IPL-VI, saying not doing so will give an impression that the cricket board is not serious about dealing with corruption in the sport.
“If the BCCI gives in writing to the Home Minister and request to investigate all the matches, the government can then investigate all the matches. They can interrogate anybody. They have legal sanction,” Mr. Pawar said.
“If, however, the board does not accept it and says its own anti-corruption (body) will do the job, I feel the board is not serious in dealing with the wrongdoings,” he added.
A three-member BCCI inquiry committee is probing Gurunath Meiyappan, who is BCCI chief N. Srinivasan’s son-in-law, and the spot-fixing allegations against three Rajasthan Royals players and its franchise as well as the Chennai Super Kings.
Mr. Pawar, who is also a former ICC president, was of the view that the IPL should continue after corrective measures are taken.
“One has to take corrective action. And IPL has to continue. It is a concept that Indian has developed and has been accepted by the global cricketing community,” he was quoted as saying by The Week.
Asked if Mr. Srinivasan should step down from his post on moral grounds, pending investigation, Mr. Pawar said, “I don’t want to comment on any individual,” adding, “the anti-corruption unit of the BCCI has no authority.
“Suppose it goes to any team owner or any bookie, they will not listen to it.”
Mr. Pawar said the spot-fixing and betting scandal has “shaken the confidence” of fans.
“One has to go to the root of the problem. One has to take very effective, ruthless, corrective action against anybody at any level,” Mr. Pawar said.
