BCCI suspends 5 cricketers caught in match-fixing sting

Five cricketers caught in a sting operation by a news channel have been suspended from all forms of cricket until an inquiry into the matter is completed, Indian Premier League (IPL) commissioner Rajiv Shukla said today.

“We recommended to the BCCI for strongest  possible action against those found guilty or suspicious in video footage being shown by India TV,” Shukla told reporters today evening, hours after the IPL governing council and Indian cricket board officials held a conference call.

Since the sting operation involved potential spot fixing in other games beyond the IPL, the matter was referred to the BCCI president, who decided to order an inquiry and created a committee to look into the matter, he said.

The former chief of the International Cricket Council’s anti-corruption and security unit, Ravi Sawani, who is now with the Indian cricket board will head it and conduct the investigations. He is expected to submit his report in 15 days to a disciplinary committee.

“Pending the inquiry 5 players will remain suspended from cricket activities and we are awaiting the report,”  Shukla said.

The cricketers suspended by the BCCI are: TP Sudhindra, Mohnish Mishra, Abhinav Bali, Amit Yadav and Shalabh Srivastava.