JOIN USThe enquiry report of the TV sting operation conducted during IPL 5 has been received by the BCCI and it will be referred to the Board’s disciplinary panel, IPL chief Rajiv Shukla said on Tuesday.
“Ravi Sawani, the enquiry commissioner, has submitted his report on TV sting operation to the BCCI president (N Srinivasan). As per the procedure, that report is being referred to the disciplinary committee of the BCCI. It will consider the recommendations of Ravi Sawani,” Shukla said after the IPL’s governing council meeting.
Five uncapped Indian cricketers were alleged to have been caught indulging in corrupt practices by a television channel which conducted a sting operation during this year’s IPL.
The three-member disciplinary panel comprises Srinivasan and two BCCI vice-presidents Arun Jaitley and Niranjan Shah.
Meanwhile, Shukla was upbeat about the “huge success of IPL V” that ended on May 27 with Kolkata Knight Riders becoming the new champions after defeating last year’s winners Chennai Super Kings in the final at the latter’s backyard.
He claimed that IPL V was viewed by more people than last year’s ICC Cricket World Cup that ended with India lifting the coveted 5O-over trophy after 28 years.
“IPL V was a huge success. The figures we have got say that nearly 2.55 billion viewers have seen IPL V. It’s more than those who watched ICC World Cup (2011). This figure is very near to world’s top 1 or 2 tournaments which includes the FIFA World Cup. I am talking only about the Indian viewership. There was also a jump of 55 per cent in internet viewership,” he said.
According to Shukla, the four play-off games of IPL V had fetched Rs 13 crore just from the sale of tickets.
“The ticket sales from the four play-off matches have fetched over Rs 13 crore out of which we are paying Rs 2.80 crore as entertainment tax to the government. All the franchises have received substantially more money from the sale of tickets this season. The (complimentary) pass culture is slowly ending in IPL. More than 50 per cent tickets were sold online,” said the IPL chairman.
Shukla said there was no discussion about inclusion of Pakistan players in future IPL editions, adding that Sialkot will take part in this year’s CLT20 Champions League, the venue of which will be decided on June 25 in Malaysia.