July 14, 2015, a very important day for Indian
Cricket. On the one hand the forcibly-constituted second-string Team India has
crushed Zimbabwe 3-0 in the ODI Series being played in Zimbabwe. On the other
the Supreme Court appointed Justice Lodha Committee delivered a historic and
ruthless verdict on the IPL Spot Fixing scam. Operation Clean-Up Indian cricket
has begun with a big bang. In these pages we have always opposed the sleazy
cricket in the garb of the Indian Premier League (IPL) tracking all the
important developments including the Supreme Court of India coming into the
picture taking on the corrupt practices both in the tournament and in the
Indian cricket board, BCCI. Now the IPL is in the worst crisis ever. Now, we
stand vindicated, we say now…scrap the IPL.
Sans the superstars the second-string Indian team
played freely in Zimbabwe under the ‘no-choice’ skipper Ajinkya Rahane. They have
built up big partnerships that the main team was found lacking in recent
matches; several key batsmen hit centuries and what is important stayed on for
the team’s interest that many superstars of the main team could not do; they
have pulled the team out of tricky and dangerous situations especially in the
first and the third one day internationals winning both matches whereas as
found recently under the same situations the main team would have given up
meekly; without pondering over the ability or the lack of it of the opposition
they have batted, bowled and fielded with determination winning finally in style.
For the first time Stuart Binny got the opportunity to showcase his all-round
abilities. He was in the World Cup-2015 team, but was hardly utilized. Within a
few days the new team grouped well and delivered. And what about the
superstars? They forced out the ‘rest’ because they were IPL-weary. Now, most
of them find that they have no IPL teams to play for.
The sensational IPL Verdict has banned two major
franchises—Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR)—from the IPL for
two years. The axe fell on these two teams due to their two key officials—Gurunath
Meiyappan of CSK and Raj Kundra of RR—who were found guilty of being involved
in heavy betting. Despite their obvious complicity no action was ever taken
against them by the concerned franchisee or the BCCI. Meiyappan and Kundra are
banned for life from all cricket activities and from all cricket matters
relating to the BCCI. Crucial evidence in this regard was submitted by the
Mudgal Committee last year.
Question marks are also on the current one-day
skipper MS Dhoni who also leads the CSK as to what he disclosed or hid from the
Mudgal committee. He was found to be in close coordination with Meiyappan, the
CEO of the franchisee, in all matters related to CSK. The shadow of doubt on
him and several other star cricketers are bound to continue till further disclosure.
Three players of RR were arrested for spot fixing and with the co-owner Raj
Kundra also implicated nobody in the franchisee bothered to examine or take
action. This is not the end of justice being done; this is just the beginning
of operation clean-up Indian cricket. More is bound to follow with the Lodha
committee set to take up the corruption and lack of transparency in the BCCI
next.
And what about N Srinivasan? His team gone, his
company Indian Cements debarred from any business with the BCCI and his
son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan banned for life. However, well known for his
craze for power, N Srinivasan will not step down or resign from his ICC
Chairmanship or other cricket posts. Questions will be raised again on his
role, but the great cricket-czar is still looking for options expressing his disappointment
at the ‘unfair’ verdict. One thing is sure though, Indian Cricket cannot be the
same after today.
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