Hiken Shah Suspended by BCCI for Corrupt Approach in IPL 2015

The Indian cricket Board (BCCI) has suspended with immediate effect Mumbai's Hiken Shah after the player was found guilty of breaching BCCI's Anti-Corruption Code. Shah made a corrupt approach to one of his colleagues from first-class cricket, who is also a member of one of the IPL teams. (Anurag Thakur Confirms Bookie Approach to Rajasthan Player)

According to a BCCI statement, the approached player (identified by the media as Mumbai leg-spinner Pravin Tambe) immediately informed the incident to his franchise team (reportedly Rajasthan Royals). The franchise team followed the process of informing the incident to the Anti-Corruption Unit of the BCCI. Based on the information, BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya instructed ACU to conduct an immediate enquiry into the matter. (Rajasthan Royals Laud Player for Reporting Bookie Approach)

After a detailed inquiry into the reported incident, the inquiry commissioner found Shah guilty of "committing breach of Articles 2.1.1; 2.1.2; and 2.1.4 of the BCCI Anti-Corruption Code for participants and recommended their provisions to the BCCI president." Shah, 30, has played 37 first-class matches for Mumbai, averaging over 42 with six hundreds.

The IPL 2013 scandal has rocked Indian cricket and the Board's ACU has taken all precautions to stop match-fixing. A panel appointed by the Supreme Court will deliver its verdict on Tuesday after Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals officials were indicted for betting during the 2013 tournament.

Dalmiya said, "BCCI has zero tolerance for corruption in the game of cricket. We have and we will take swift action against such incidents to set a precedent and control the menace of corruption in the game. While placing the player under suspension, I have referred the matter to the disciplinary committee of the BCCI to take further action against the player involved." (Dravid Urges Players to Remain Vigilant to Avoid Fixing Menace)

BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur, said, "This particular incident demonstrates that BCCI's education policy against corruption is showing results, as the player approached was vigilant enough to report the matter to the ACU of the BCCI. Having said that, the fight against corruption is an ongoing battle and we will not leave any stone unturned. BCCI is committed to keep cricket corruption-free."

Rajasthan Royals are not alien to the threat of spot-fixing after former India paceman S. Sreesanth and two other cricketers from the team were arrested in 2013 on suspicion of taking money to concede a fixed number of runs. Sreesanth, who denied any wrongdoing, was subsequently banned for life by the BCCI. (Sreesanth Rests Faith in Judiciary as Delhi High Court Announces Date to Frame Charges)