Chennai Super Kings Suspension Shocking, Players Must Get Fair Deal: Stephen Fleming

Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming has said the two-year suspension slapped on the former IPL champions by a Supreme Court-appointed panel was shocking and harsh. The former New Zealand Test captain, who has been the face of the MS Dhoni-led team, said the suspension left him and the players in no-man's land.

The 42-year-old Fleming has been quoted in Stuff.co.nz,

saying: "Those verdicts handed down were the result of about 18 months' worth of court work and lawyer work, no-one really had any idea and I think that's why there is shock around the severity of the punishment because I don't think the franchises were preparing themselves to be suspended. Fines were the major things they were talking about."

The IPL governing council will meet in Mumbai on Sunday to discuss the RM Lodha verdict that is binding on the BCCI. IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla has said the interest of the players and Board will be "paramount." Fleming expects the same treatment.

"There is so much to happen over the next few days, weeks, maybe even months. I don't know how the franchise will respond and what options they will have to respond with.

"If the franchise waits out two years, does it include me or not. I don't know. Just like the players, I am in limbo," Fleming said, adding: "The players are basically on year to year contracts and they can choose whether to accept a new contract or not."

"It is my understanding, if Chennai wanted to keep them, they would have the choice of being retained or going back in the auction. You would imagine if the franchise wasn't playing for two years the players would opt to go back into the auction. The players will be fine. They will be well looked after," Fleming said.

A shrewd tactician of the game during his prime and one of the best Test skippers, Fleming is disappointed at the turn of events.

"From the auction, to shaping a team with Steve Rixon and Andy Bichel, we have put a lot of time into making sure this franchise is successful, so to be on the backburner for two years or to see it go completely is disappointing," he said.

Fleming is shocked that the man who virtually ran the team - Gurunath Meiyappan - turned out to be the villain of the piece.

"I got to know him over the years. This happened two-three years ago and when it all came out, it was a shock." Gurunath, the son-in-law of ex-BCCI president N. Srinivasan, has been banned for life from cricketing activities by the Lodha panel.

Fleming remains loyal to Chennai Super Kings but in the event of the BCCI upholding the Lodha committee suspension, the super-coach will not be out of work. He has taken over Melbourne Stars for the 2015-16 edition of the Big Bash.