Spot-fixing: BCCI will come down like a ton of bricks on those guilty, says Srinivasan
Board president reveals the results of matches under the scanner will remain unaltered. IPL will go on as per schedule and its image has not been hurt, he added
"Shocked and upset" Board of Control for Cricket In India president N. Srinivasan has once again reiterated the strongest action against the four Rajasthan Royals players suspended for their alleged involvement in spot-fixing. "We will come down like a ton of bricks on those guilty," he said.
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Speaking to NDTV in an exclusive chat on Friday, Srinivasan pointed out the players have their rights and no action can be taken till they have been proved guilty. Former Test bowler Sreesanth and three of his Rajasthan Royals teammates - Ankeet Chavan, Ajit Chandila and Amit Singh - are facing charges of spot-fixing in three separate 2013 Indian Premier League matches played between May 5 and May 15.
The BCCI chief, who owns the Chennai Super Kings team, refused to comment on at least six bookies and lot of cash being found by police in Chennai on Friday. Srinivasan said: "BCCI functions under limitations and the job of its anti-corruption unit is to educate players to report or refrain from illegal activities like betting."
Srinivasan refused to believe the credibility of either the BCCI or the IPL has taken a beating. "It's too strong a statement to say the IPL's credibility has taken a hit. No one can deny what has happened but three players can't destroy the image of the BCCI," he said.
BCCI has convened an emergency working committee meeting on Sunday in Srinivasan's home town Chennai. "We will discuss everything there and will get to the bottom of it. But we will wait for proofs and till the investigations are complete, nobody can be nailed," he said.
Saying it was "greed" that got the better of the players, Srinivasan said BCCI "educates" every player on corruption and doping. "This is a clear case of greed. It also shows how vulnerable the players are. Each one of them knows what is wrong and what is right," he said.
Srinivasan confirmed that the results of the matches where spot-fixing allegedly took place will not be altered.
"The IPL technical committee has gone through the tapes and have found nothing unusual. The results stay as they are. No one fixed an entire match. It's only allegation of spot-fixing," the BCCI president said.