XtraTime Web Desk: India fast bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth along with two other Rajasthan Royals bowlers Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan were arrested from Mumbai by Delhi Police for their links with bookies on May 16, 2013. All the three cricketers were put behind the bars for their alleged involvement in spot fixing during Indian Premier League (IPL) matches in 2013.
Sreesanth joined Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2012 but did not play any matches that season due to injuries. The fast bowler from Kerala regained full fitness ahead of the 2013 IPL season. He was part of the playing XI in the initial stages of the tournament but an injury kept him out for a few fixtures in April end. Royals team management once again picked him in the playing XI after he declared himself fit. It was during this period in May when three matches that he played in came under scanner. According to the Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar, spot fixing happened in three Rajasthan Royals’ matches against Pune Warriors (May 5), Kings XI Punjab (May 9) and Mumbai Indians (May 15).
The night before the three cricketers were nabbed by the Delhi Police in Mumbai, no one in the capacity crowd at the Wankhede stadium on May 15, 2013 imagined what was to unfold within six hours after the match between Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan got over.
All three cricketers were arrested on charges of spot-fixing during IPL 6. It was reported that the three cricketers spot-fixed IPL 2013 matches for payments of up to Rs 60 lakhs just for giving away pre-determined number of runs in an over.
The following day, i.e., on May 17, 2013, Sreesanth confessed about his involvement in spot fixing to the Delhi Police. According to the police Sreesanth was drunk at the time of his arrest and thought he was being arrested for being drunk. When the Delhi police team intercepted him, he was reportedly accompanied with a woman in a SUV outside a five-star hotel in Carter Road Promenade, Mumbai.
Rajasthan Royals terminated its contract with all the three tainted cricketers. The disciplinary committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) imposed a life ban on Sreesanth, Chandila and Chavan.
Sreesanth, who always maintained he was innocent during the whole episodes of spot fixing later had his life ban lifted by the Supreme Court. BCCI ombudsman DK Jain later reduced the ban to seven years starting from September 13, 2013.
In a statement DK Jain said, “I am of the view that banning Sreesanth from participating in any kind of commercial cricket or from associating with any activities of BCCI or its affiliates, for a period of 7 years with effect from September 13, 2013. The date from which, the period of ban imposed by the Disciplinary Committee had commenced, will meet the ends of justice.”
The entire sport fixing saga in IPL 2013 has left a bad image on the cash rich league.