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Indian cricketers questioned over spot-fixing allegations | Indian cricketers questioned over spot-fixing allegations |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Three Indian cricketers are being questioned by police over charges of spot-fixing in the Indian Premier League (IPL), their team says. | |
The players belong to the Rajasthan Royals team and have been identified as S Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila by the team boss, Raghu Iyer. | The players belong to the Rajasthan Royals team and have been identified as S Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila by the team boss, Raghu Iyer. |
The team said it had "a zero-tolerance approach to anything that is against the spirit of the game". | The team said it had "a zero-tolerance approach to anything that is against the spirit of the game". |
Meanwhile, the Indian cricket board has suspended the three players. | |
There has been no word from the cricketers themselves. | |
Spot-fixing involves illegally rigging parts of a match, for example by timing the delivery of a deliberate wide or no-ball, to benefit bookmakers or those betting on matches. | |
Rajasthan Royals are captained by legendary Indian batsman Rahul Dravid and owned by Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty and her businessman husband Raj Kundra. | |
Fast bowler Sreesanth has represented India in many international games. He has played 27 Tests and 53 one-day internationals. | |
'Taken by surprise' | |
Media reports said the players were taken from Mumbai for questioning late on Wednesday. | Media reports said the players were taken from Mumbai for questioning late on Wednesday. |
They are expected to appear in court in Delhi on Thursday. | They are expected to appear in court in Delhi on Thursday. |
"We have been informed that three of our players have been called in for investigation on spot-fixing in matches. We are completely taken by surprise," Rajasthan Royals said in a statement. | |
"We do not have the full facts at this point and are unable to confirm anything. We are in touch with the BCCI [Board for Control of Cricket in India] on this matter. We will fully co-operate with the authorities to ensure a thorough investigation." | |
The BCCI immediately suspended the three players saying it was "shocked and saddened" at the development. | |
"The IPL governing council has met and decided that the cricketers found involved will be dealt with severely," the board said in a statement. | |
"As of now, the three players - Ankeet Chavan, Ajit Chandila and S Sreesanth - stand suspended pending enquiry. All information required to bring the persons involved to book will be collected and strictest action will be taken, if found guilty," it added. | |
Some media reports, quoting police sources, said at least seven bookmakers had also been arrested. | |
The sixth season of the IPL, which is considered to be the world's showcase for Twenty20 cricket, is currently under way in India. | The sixth season of the IPL, which is considered to be the world's showcase for Twenty20 cricket, is currently under way in India. |
Top Indian and international players take part, contributing to what is the world's richest cricket tournament. | Top Indian and international players take part, contributing to what is the world's richest cricket tournament. |
The scandal is the latest to affect cricket. | |
Last year, Indian cricket officials suspended five players after a sting by undercover TV reporters purported to show cricketers agreeing to bowl no-balls and spot-fix matches. | |
And in 2011, three top Pakistani players - Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir - were banned after they were found guilty of involvement in a betting scam. |