Spot-fixing: The curious case of Rajasthan, Chennai and the 'ironic' fairplay award
Define fairplay award? Ok, when you play and you play fair, you get an award. In the current context, perhaps the award was mis-spelt and should have been 'fareplay' award instead. Here's why.
- Shubhodeep Chakravarty
- Updated: May 26, 2013 08:27 PM IST
What's common between Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings? The question asked in the current scheme of things would evoke answers ranging from spot-fixing to betting and criminal investigations. Interestingly, what's also common between both teams is that they have been recipients of the Indian Premier League fair-play award in the previous years.
Yes, while Rajasthan Royals won the award last year only to find allegations of spot-fixing against three of its players this time, Chennai Super Kings have 'been there, done that' with this award thrice in its six-year history. The former team principal of the side though now faces allegations of betting in matches, possibly even ones in which the side played.
The official website of IPL - iplt20.com - may have recently taken off the fairplay standings for this year's tournament but ironically, both Chennai and Rajasthan were at the top this year too till last checked.
Most interesting in all of this though is the manner in which fair play points are awarded. Umpires give points to each team at the end of the match and the eventual winners at the end of the tournament are given trophies for each player in the side. This edition though has now also seen an umpire -Pakistan's Asad Rauf - coming under the scanner and is being probed for links to bookies.
With an officials, as many as three players and at least one team owner being investigated for either spot-fixing, betting or for having links with bookies, fair-play standings and award perhaps can best described by the official website - missing from naked vision.