The ugly word of fixing has reared its head once again, with three Rajsthan Royals players — S Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankit Chavan — being arrested on charges of spot-fixing.
Apart from the Wednesday match against hosts Mumbai Indians which the Royals lost by 14 runs, the Jaipur side’s clash with Kings XI Punjab last week is under the scanner. And, the issue has left Kings XI skipper Adam Gilchrist shocked, once again. “It’s a horrible thought to think that it continues. Over the years, we hear that players are young, naïve and unaware. That is all rubbish,” he told The Pioneer in an exclusive chat here soon after the news broke out.
“In this age, no matter what country or what you culture you are from, we (the players) are so well educated about the pitfalls of the temptations of areas like match or spot fixing that there is absolutely no excuse. If one is proven guilty there is no defence. We are very well aware, very well paid. It’s a greatest sign of disrespect to fellow players, administrators, sponsors and fans. As a fellow player it’s absolute disrespect. It’s an abuse to the game,” the Australian said. The Kings XI-Royals match in Mohali had made news for Chandila’s appeal against Gilchrist. “Unfortunately, we lost that game against Rajasthan. But I would happily accept those two points if they decide to reverse the result of that match,” Gilchrist said, laughingly.
“I have heard the team owners or management saying they would strongly support any investigations into threat of the spirit of the game, there was clearly one incident that I felt was clearly outside the spirit of the game. And, the same gentleman involved is in the news now,” he said.
It was during the May 9 match between Kings XI and Royals that Gilchrist was left shocked by a run-out appeal by Chandila. Shaun Marsh, who was on strike in the third over and hit the ball to mid-on and on seeing the ball being fielded there, Gilchrist, who was just a bit out of the crease at the other end, turned to make his way back. The incoming throw hit Gilchrist on the glove and the rebound was collected by Chandila. With Gilchrist was short of the crease, Chandila hit the stumps and appealed, making Gilchrist give him a good stare.
Royals skipper Rahul Dravid rushed in as even the umpire looked confused for a while. Dravid told him that they were not appealing and things settled down. With Dravid’s honesty and spirit lauded in cricketing circles, his team members being charged for fixing has only enhanced the shock value. “Only he knows what he has done,” Gilchrist said of Chandila.
“They (the accused players) are under obligation to tell the truth. Hopefully they will do that. If proven not guilty, fine. But if proven guilty, there should be absolutely no space for them in the game, ever.”
Gilchrist also said that the news had, indeed, affected the environment in the team hotel as well. “What it does is that it heightens the activity all around. Excitement would not be the right word, but it starts discussions and anxiety. It’s not good,” he said of the Kings XI players’ reaction to one of their matches being investigated. “What makes you wonder is how much of it is still going on. life ban is the only way players would understand. If they can appeal and come back, it defeats the purpose,” Gilchrist said.
The BCCI had banned five players, who were accused of match-fixing in a news channel’s sting operations, for different durations in 2012.
While Deccan Chargers’ TP Sudhindra was banned for life, Kings XI’s Shalabh Srivastava was banned for five years. The other three — Mohnish Mishra of Pune Warriors, Kings XI’s Amit Yadav and Abhinav Bali, who was not in contract with any team and claimed to have spot-fixed during 2009 season — were handed a year's ban each.
While Mishra had issued a written apology days after the sting operation was aired during IPl 5, saying that he had ‘done it casually to increase his value,' Srivastava had claimed innocence.
Meanwhile, Kings XI team manager Varoon Parmar said that the side would comply with BCCI orders as and when is required. “It’s the Rajasthan players who have been caught so we are not worried. As far as that match is concerned, we will do whatever the BCCI asks us to help with the investigation. So far we haven’t received any orders from them,” he said.