BCCI arm-twisted Sri Lanka to withdraw corruption report in 2010

Monday, 3 June 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

PTI: Even as the spot-fixing scandal rages on, Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) President I.S. Bindra has claimed that a BCCI official had arm-twisted the Sri Lankan Board to withdraw a report which had mentioned an Indian player allegedly violating the anti corruption regulations during India’s tour of Sri Lanka in 2010.

Bindra, in an article on his website, made three points in the wake of the spot-fixing scandal and recounted an incident involving corruption during India’s tour of Sri Lanka in 2010.

“On India’s tour of Sri Lanka in 2010, due to the LTTE operation, a retired general of Sri Lankan army was given charge of the Indian team’s security and he ensured the tightest security arrangements, including installing CCTV cameras on every floor and the lobby of the hotels where the Indian team was staying.

“At night, an official travelling with the team had taken a girl into the room of an Indian player who is also a prominent member of CSK team for last six seasons. It was observed on the footage that the girl spent the night prior to a game. It was also alleged that girl was sent by an individual on ICC’s list of suspected bookies. This incident was in gross violation of security as well as anti corruption regulations,” Bindra claimed.

“On the basis of General’s report, the Sri Lankan Board reported these sordid details in writing to the team manager along with documented evidence and also informed anti corruption officials of the ICC. It is understood that under pressure from an official of the Indian Board, the Sri Lanka Board was made to withdraw the report.

“Mihir Bose filed this story in The Sunday Times, which was rubbished by the BCCI spokesperson, and Sri Lanka Cricket Board was arm-twisted into denying the whole episode,” he said.

Bindra said, “The above narrative leads me to the second major point that could this incidence have nipped an emerging malfeasance in the bud and are we paying the price now?”

Interestingly, Bindra chose to make this claim on the eve of the Emergency Working Committee meeting of the BCCI where members are likely to push for N. Srinivasan’s resignation.