BCCI contemplates criminal case

His back against the wall after the IPL spot-fixing scandal, BCCI President N Srinivasan has not ruled out filing a criminal complaint against the arrested “dirty cricketers”, insisting that no one is hurting more than him because of the crisis.

“If permitted, we will file a criminal case against them,” said Srinivasan on being asked whether the BCCI would file a case against the arrested players.

“The person who is hurting the most is me. We are hurting like anything...No punishment is too big for them,” Srinivasan told CNN-IBN channel.

A special cell of the Delhi police arrested India pacer S Sreesanth and his Rajasthan Royals teammates — Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan — for indulging in spot-fixing in at least three IPL matches as per arrangements with bookies who have underworld connections abroad.

Facing criticism for not keeping a check on the menace of fixing despite warnings from various quarters, the defiant BCCI chief insisted that it is the greed of individual players that has created the ongoing crisis.

“IPL has not let down people, it is the dirty cricketers who have let down people. We feel bad that such a thing has happened. But I don’t have to personally apologise as long as people can see that we are acting against the problem,” he said.

“We are really shocked. I have no words to condemn what has happened. We want it never to happen again. We are an honest organisation,” he added.

Srinivasan defended the league which, according to some experts of the game, has created fertile ground for fixing and manipulation. 

“That’s a very big generalisation. We have to admit that three players have been arrested. Their lawyers are saying they are innocent. We have to wait for the Delhi Police to substantiate these allegations,” Srinivasan said.

Asked whether the Board is in a state of denial given that corruption was exposed in the league even last season, a defiant Srinivasan said, “I am not in a state of denial. There was some evidence, police have made their statement fine...all I am saying is the players are innocent till proven guilty.”