Stung by the sensational IPl spot-fixing scandal, the BCCI has called an Emergent Working Committee meeting on Sunday to discuss the "fallout" of the controversy that has tarnished the credibility of the cash-rich league.
"The President, BCCI, has convened an Emergent Working Committee Meeting, at 11:00 am on Sunday, 19 February 2013, at the Park Sheraton, Chennai," the BCCI statement said.
"The Working Committee will discuss, among other things, the fallout of the spot-fixing controversy in the ongoing IPl, in which three players have been arrested by the Delhi Police," it added.
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.
IPl is credible, greed took over players: BCCI
The BCCI on Friday said that it was doing its bit to curb the menace of corruption in the game but it has its own limitations and one should not question the credibility of the IPl due to the latest spot-fixing scandal.
"Nobody can deny what happened. We won't sit and allow this to happen. What is impact of it.. let's see what happens. Allegations have to be proved, players too have rights. IPl is still credible, there are allegations and we will get to the bottom of it," BCCI President N Srinivasan told NDTV.
"This is a clear indication of risk. They are Ranji and Test players. It is not as if they did not know what's wrong and still went ahead. It looks greed has taken over. It seems three players have fallen pray," the BCCI chief said.
Srinivasan outlined what their endeavours are in curbing corruption and also accepted their limitations in doing the job. "We do not have resources of a state, of a government, of police or an agency. We function on certain limitations. We engage the services of the ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit. We have a Working Committee meeting and we will look into all aspects. We will hear from our own Anti-Corruption Unit on that day. We will wait to get all the information.
"Our ACSU is involved in extensive education of the players. Whether it is a bilateral series or a World Cup match or IPl, all the teams are briefed and all the players are told that if they are approached, they should inform us. A lot of steps are being taken. There are protocols in place and if a player breaches the protocol and something like this comes out, we will take severe action," he said.
Srinivasan also said that they would not spare the guilty.
"We will follow procedure. He (Sreesanth) has to face a disciplinary enquiry. At the end of it, whatever is the conclusion, based on that, necessary punishment will be meted out, if he is found guilty, certainly 100 percent."
Strongest possible punishment: Shukla
IPl Chairman Rajeev Shukla warned of "strongest possible action" against those players found guilty of spot-fixing.
Reacting to the sensational arrest of Indian paceman S Sreesanth and two of his Rajasthan Royals teammates — Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila — Shukla said that the development has come as a shock for the organisers.
The three Rajasthan Royals players were arrested by the Delhi police in Mumbai early yesterday on charges of spot-fixing, throwing the IPl into its biggest ever crisis till date. 11 bookies in Mumbai and Delhi were also arrested in connection with the same case.
"We have called an emergency Working Committee meeting in Chennai on Sunday. We will discuss the entire issue before deciding the future course of action," Shukla said.
"We will be taking some important decisions. The strongest possible action will be taken against the guilty. Whoever is found to be involved in spot-fixing, will not be spared," he said.
He said the BCCI's anti-corruption unit, headed by Ravi Sawani, has been asked to investigate the matter and submit its report. "If we have Sawani's preliminary report by Sunday, we will go through it and discuss it," he said.
Shukla said the IPl Governing Council will try its best to keep the tournament clean and ensure that it's image does not take a further beating. The IPl Chairman also thanked the Delhi police for unearthing the spot-fixing scandal.