ACSU officer to travel with the teams for play-offs

In the wake of the spot-fixing scandal that has rocked the Indian Premier League, BCCI has stepped up the security for the four teams, who entered the play-offs, by providing them officers from its Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU).

The decision was taken following Sunday’s emergent meeting of the BCCI’s Working Committee. Both Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings, who are in Delhi for the first play-off match on Tuesday, were on Monday provided an officer each.

The other two teams, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals, who are scheduled to arrive in Delhi on Tuesday, have also been allotted an officer each.

“According to what we have been told, the officer will stay with the team, travel with us and will work with the team security in-charge,” a official from one of the franchises said.
‘No pressure’

Delhi Police commissioner Neeraj Kumar on Monday denied rumours that there was pressure on his department to go soft on the arrested Rajasthan Royals cricketers -- S Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan.

He made the statement after BCCI’s anti-corruption and security unit chief Ravi Sawani met Kumar at the Delhi Police headquarters in ITO. “All the rumours are totally incorrect. There is no pressure whatsoever and, in any case, even if there is any pressure, we are going to take this probe to its logical end, come what may,” Kumar said.

He added that the BCCI has asked his department to share information which would help them take disciplinary action against the players. “We will share information on conclusion of the probe and with permission of the court,” Kumar said.

Kumar also held a 30-minute meeting with Ravi Sawani, the ACSU officer appointed by BCCI to investigate the spot-fixing scandal. Sawani said the board has assured police of providing assistance in their investigation. “I had a fruitful meeting with Delhi Police commissioner Neeraj Kumar and other top officials. The BCCI has assured Delhi Police of all its co-operation,” Sawani said.

Sawani refused to set any deadline for the submission of his report. “I cannot give you a definite timeframe. It will take some time to collect all the evidences in this matter,” he said.