Mumbai: Haryana cricketer Ajit Chandila, handed life ban by BCCI for his involvement in the IPL spot-fixing case (2013) that rocked the cricket world, requested the board to reconsider the decision on Tuesday.
Chandila, who represented Rajasthan Royals, was arrested on charges of spot-fixing by Delhi police along with India speedster Sreesanth and Mumbai spinner Ankeet Chavan.
“I am not from a very well to do family, cricket is like a religion to me,” he said.
The off-spinner expressed surprise at the board’s verdict.
Read: Chandila handed life ban by BCCI, Hiken Shah suspended for 5 years
“Never thought such a verdict will come, request BCCI to think about me once,” he added.
“Nowadays parents want their kids to play in IPL more than playing for India. I am innocent. I will wait for sometime after appealing to BCCI and then I will see,” said Chandila.
This was the first definite action taken against Chandila by the BCCI, since the Indian board suspended him in May 2013 following his arrest by Delhi Police for his alleged involvement in corruption in the IPL.
But the cricketer said he is not challenging BCCI’s decision, he is only asking to reconsider.
"I am not planning to challenge the decision in the court. I want to request the BCCI to reconsider their decision. There is no one higher in between the court and the BCCI. The BCCI has different set of rules and the court has different set of rules. I am hopeful that the cricket board will consider my request," he asserted.
A release from the BCCI said Chandila was "held guilty of misconduct and corruption", having breached seven clauses of Article 2 of the BCCI's anti-corruption code relating to corruption and betting. Shah, the release said, had breached three clauses of Article 2, all related to corruption.
The BCCI's disciplinary committee had met in Mumbai on Monday, and pronounced the penalties against the two.
