It could be curtains as far as S. Sreesanth’s cricket career is concerned as the BCCI is set to impose a life-ban on the ‘maverick’ pacer from Kerala for his alleged role in spot-fixing three of Rajasthan Royals’ Indian Premier League matches this season.
As of now, the BCCI top brass will be keeping an eye on how the Delhi Police Investigations pan out, but there is unanimity among the office-bearers that “Sreesanth should not be allowed to play any cricket at any level” from now on.
“As of now, Ravi Sawani, who is the head of BCCI’s Anti-Corruption Unit, will carry out a parallel investigation and will submit a report to BCCI disciplinary committee headed by Arun Jaitley within 30 days,” a senior BCCI office-bearer told PTI on Thursday. “But the mood among BCCI office-bearers is pretty clear. If we say zero tolerance, we should be able to walk the talk. We don’t see Sreesanth ending with anything less than a life-ban. The decision will take some time but that’s what is likely to happen,” he added.
What could prove to be decisive is the arrest of Sreesanth along with Haryana’s Ajit Chandila and Mumbai’s Ankeet Chavan.
“Last year, BCCI carried an enquiry based on sting operation carried by a TV channel and T.P. Sudhindra was handed out life-ban. Here the case is even more twisted as the police has carried out arrests. There is practically no chance for any reprieve for Sreesanth,” he concluded.
Air India suspends players
Tainted Rajasthan Royals’ cricketers Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila were on Thursday suspended by their employer Air India after being arrested by the Delhi Police on charges of spot-fixing in the ongoing IPL.
“As soon as any of our staff is arrested by the police, they are deemed to be suspended with immediate effect,” an airline official told PTI.
Both were employed by Air India under sports quota. “If government employees are charged under IPC (120 B, 420 for the duo), then they are immediately suspended from the services. Air India has got nothing to do in such cases and neither will it set up any enquiry with police already investigating the matter,” the officials said.
