NEW DELHI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India has imposed a life ban on a non-capped player and also announced temporary bans on four others following a sting operation last month by a local television channel.
T.P. Sudhindra, who had been shown agreeing to and then bowling deliberate no-balls at pre-determined points in a local Twenty20 game by the India TV news channel, was handed a life ban yesterday.
“Sudhindra has been debarred for life, from playing any cricket matches conducted or authorized by the ICC or BCCI, or any affiliated unit of the BCCI,” the Indian board said in a statement. “He will not be entitled to the monthly gratis, benevolent fund, benefit match or any other facility. He cannot hold any position in any cricket association affiliated to the BCCI, for life.”
Shalabh Srivastava was given a five-year ban for agreeing to spot fixing in the Indian Premier League, even though he did not go on to do so.
Three others - Mohnish Mishra, Amit Yadav and Abhinav Bali - received one-year bans for “loose talk and unsubstantiated bragging.”
All five players had been provisionally suspended on May 15 pending an investigation and their bans will run from that date.
The decision was announced by a three-member disciplinary committee headed by BCCI chief Narainswamy Srinivasan. The committee had been handed a detailed report by the ICC’s former head of its anti-corruption unit, Ravi Sawani, who investigated the allegations that came up during this year’s IPL.
The TV sting involved reporters posing as agents of a sports management firm offering players money to perform in a certain way at specific times in the match.
The channel showed Sudhindra, who plays for Deccan Chargers in the IPL, allegedly bowling a no-ball in a local T20 game in the central city of Indore in exchange for a payment of a little over $1,000.
Pictures captured by a hidden camera appeared to show Sudhindra agreeing to bowl a no-ball with his second delivery of the game. India TV then showed footage of the game in which Sudhindra bowled a no-ball by well over a foot at the pre-determined time.
Though the video does not show Sudhindra agreeing to spot fixing in the IPL, the channel did play out a telephone conversation with Srivastava of the Kings XI Punjab team agreeing to bowl a no-ball in the IPL. Srivastava, however, did not get to play in this year’s IPL.
Indian cricketer given life ban for spot fixing
Indian cricketer given life ban for spot fixing
Rajkovic excels as Al-Ittihad cruise to victory against Al-Shabab
- Al-Ittihad secure fifth Saudi Pro League win of the season with a 2-0 victory
JEDDAH: It has not been the start to the season that Al-Ittihad fans had anticipated. Nevertheless, on their return to Saudi Pro League action after a 36-day hiatus, the defending champions delivered a performance that offered renewed confidence ahead of a demanding run of seven matches in the space of 30 days.
The opening exchanges proved far from straightforward for The Tigers.
Attempting to play out from the back, they were punished within the first two minutes as Abdullah Matuq pounced on a mistake to find himself one-on-one with Predrag Rajkovic, only for the Serbian goalkeeper to produce the first of several crucial saves. Just 60 seconds later, Rajkovic was called into action again, this time denying a header from a corner.
Momentum soon shifted. Roger Fernandes began to cause problems down the left wing, his quick footwork getting the better of Al-Shabab’s defence before he delivered a low cross into the box. Ahmed Al-Ghamdi, aided by Karim Benzema’s intelligent screening of Saad Balobaid, met it to open the scoring in the 16th minute.
Al-Ittihad came close to doubling their advantage in the 28th minute. Mohannad Al-Shangeeti struck the far post with a powerful effort, before his follow-up attempt narrowly missed the target, drifting wide of Marcelo Grohe’s goal.
Grohe was later called upon to keep Al-Shabab in the contest, producing a fine save in the 58th minute to deny Benzema after the Frenchman was released by a perfectly weighted pass from Steven Bergwijn.
Al-Ittihad continued to dominate possession, though Imanol Alguacil’s side managed to limit Fernandes’ influence by committing extra defensive cover on the left flank.
That adjustment failed to account for Al-Shangeeti’s runs from deep, as he surged down the right to find Bergwijn, who finished first time to seal the contest for the hosts in the 85th minute.
Late substitute Abdulaziz Al-Bishi thought he had added a third in the closing stages, but his effort was ruled out for offside.
The win lifts Al-Ittihad into sixth place on 17 points, while Al-Shabab remain just two points above the relegation zone, extending their winless run to eight matches since their Matchday 2 victory over Al-Hazem.
