Pravin Tambe was approached by Mumbai cricketer to fix games in IPL 8: report
Mumbai: While the eighth edition of the Indian Premier League was largely controversy-free, a news of Rajasthan Royals’ player getting approached to fix games created a stir.
Although the player informed Board of Control for Cricket in India about the approach, his name did not come out then. However, as per the report in ‘Hindustan Times’, it was Rajasthan Royals’ leg-spinner Pravin Tambe who was approached by a Mumbai-based cricketer to change the outcome of the matches.
Read: Player asked to fix match, approaches BCCI's anti-corruption unit
The leg-spinner, as it is revelaed now, declined the offer and reported the incident to the BCCI's ACSU which launched an investigation into the incident. It is been over two months since the incident came to light. But the investigators are yet to reveal who approached the Mumbai leggie.
Read: Raj Kundra involved in betting, rules SC
On April 10, BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur as well as the Rajasthan Royals team CEO Raghu Iyer had praised the whistleblower for bringing to the BCCI's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) about an alleged approach by another individual to corrupt the game.
The names of both, described as Mumbai Ranji Trophy teammates in a news report one day earlier to the statements of Thakur and Iyer, were not revealed in the press statements.
Confirming that a cricketer was indeed approached, BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur had then said the player's action showed that the Board's efforts to educate players over perils of spot-fixing are paying off.
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Though Thakur did not reveal the identity of the player, Rajasthan Royals’ squad had five cricketers from Mumbai – Ajinkya Rahane, Pravin Tambe, Dinesh Salunkhe, Dhawal Kulkarni and Abhishek Nayar.
A player ws approachd & he immediately intimatd @BCCI anti corruption unit.Glad tht BCCI educatn policy showing positive results. @ANI_news
— Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) April 10, 2015Players are alert & they know wat is to be done due to our regular education efforts @BCCI. @PTI_News @ANI_news
— Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) April 10, 2015Read: ‘At least 4 CSK players are involved in fixing,’ tweets Lalit Modi
Rajasthan Royals, at the centre of the 2013 spot-fixing scandal as well, had also confirmed the development and promised zero tolerance.
"Over a month ago, a player from Rajasthan Royals was approached inappropriately by a player (who was not part of the IPL) in connection with the Indian Premier League 2015 matches," Royals' CEO Raghu Iyer had said in a statement.
"Maintaining high standards of integrity, the player informed the Rajasthan Royals management of this inappropriate approach. In keeping with applicable IPL Regulations, Rajasthan Royals management immediately reported the incident to the Anti-Corruption & Security Unit (ACSU) of the BCCI.
"Rajasthan Royals commends the player for having reported this incident immediately and for his honesty and uprightness. His dedication to maintain the highest standards of integrity needs to be lauded," Iyer added in April press release.
Iyer said RR, whose players were arrested during the 2013 scandal, will take a very strict view of any corruption.
"Rajasthan Royals in keeping with its zero tolerance approach immediately reported the incident further to the ACSU/BCCI for further process. Rajasthan Royals will continue to provide full support and assistance to the BCCI to ensure that the game of cricket is played in the right spirit."
"This incident does highlight that if players and other officials cooperate and disclose information or approaches immediately, the game can be kept clean and free from undesirable elements and activities," he had said.
The incident came on the heels of the 2013 IPL spot-fixing scandal which led to the arrests of three Rajasthan Royals cricketers, including former India fast bowler S Sreesanth.
The spot-fixing saga also forced N Srinivasan to step down as BCCI president after his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan was found guilty of betting. Royals' co-owner Raj Kundra was also questioned during the investigation was indicted by the Supreme Court-appointed Mukul Mudgal committee.
MCA still in the dark about IPL whistle-blower's identity:
It has been more than two months since the issue cropped up, but Mumbai Cricket Association officials are still in the dark about the identities of their two Ranji Trophy players, both the whistleblower and the alleged culprit, who were involved in another IPL-related corruption attempt.
"We have not got any information from the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India, which conducts the cash-rich Indian Premier League) on this issue. No, we have not asked them. They must have either investigated the thing or are still pursuing the case," MCA's joint secretary Dr P V Shetty told PTI.
