The Sports Ministry on Thursday asked IPL authorities to award deterrent punishment to the three cricketers, who were allegedly involved in spot-fixing in the ongoing tournament, if they were found guilty.
“The Minister of Sports, Shri Jitendra Singh, has spoken to IPL Chairman Shri Rajeev Shukla and impressed upon him to take urgent steps to put in place a mechanism to prevent such unethical activities and ensure clean sports in the country,” said a Ministry statement.
Sharad Pawar, former president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India: said: “Somebody who associates himself with match-fixing, I think strict action should be taken against these set of players. They bring disrepute to the game and the nation. BCCI should take strict action against the players involved in fixing. The Board should work towards bringing a permanent end to this problem.”
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Tharoor sad
Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development Shashi Tharoor said he was sad over the arrest of Sreesanth, “a good cricketer and pride of Kerala,” adding, “We cannot say he has committed any wrong until the court processes are over. He will remain innocent until proven guilty.”
Former cricketer Bishan Singh Bedi said: “One has to be deeply naïve to be ‘shocked’ at the “ugly exposure” of the IPL. “Feeling sorry for anyone associated with [the] time bomb would be equally blasphemous!”
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Sourav Ganguly upset
Former captain Sourav Ganguly said: “I am disappointed and angry at what has happened. If found guilty, they should be banned for life.”
Raj Kundra, co-owner of Rajasthan Royals, said: “When asked the repeated question, is IPL fixed, my answer is always IPL teams can’t be fixed, but individual players who lack integrity can.”
Another former captain Sunil Gavaskar said: “The IPL rewards cricketers quite handsomely, some of them are paid over-handsomely. Despite that, [the fact that] some players are tempted to take the wrong route is shocking.”
Australian cricketer Aaron Finch, who plays for Pune Warriors, tweeted: “Another very sad day for cricket!!”
Tom Moody: “Match-fixing controversy again harming the game we all cherish so much.”
Shane Warne: “What the hell is this about the Royals in the IPL? Are the reports True or false?”
Rajasthan Royals all-rounder Stuart Binny: “I would be lyin if I said that this doesn’t effect us & that #RR are fine. We feel deceived, cheated & I urge harsh punishment 4 these guys.”