After the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) suspended several players for their alleged involvement in betting/match-fixing during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in the United Arab Emirates, the BCCI’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) will be “even more careful and even more alert” during the upcoming IPL.
BCCI ACU chief Neeraj Kumar, a former Commissioner of Delhi Police, says the ICC Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU), which is in-charge of the IPL, would take the decision whether or not to enhance the personnel during the tournament in April-May.
“Our existing apparatus of inviting the ICC ACSU for maintaining the integrity of the POMA (Players and Match Officials’ Area) and general anti-corruption measures, coupled with our appointing team integrity officers with the main team, is quite adequate and has worked well in previous years,” Neeraj Kumar told Outlook.
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“So, we will go ahead with that. We don’t feel the necessity to upgrade the arrangements any further. Obviously, we will be even more careful and even more alert. But that’s about all,” he said.
Asked if more personnel would be pressed into service in view of what happened during the PSL in the UAE, Neeraj Kumar said he was for status quo but the ICC ACSU would take the final decision.
“It will depend on ICC’s lookout because they are responsible for maintaining the integrity of the tournament. If they wish to up the arrangements, it is up to them. But so far I think we will maintain the status quo,” he said.
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Recently, the PCB suspended Islamabad United players Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif for breach of anti-corruption code and sent them back to Pakistan midway through the PSL. Later, Test-discard Nasir Jamshed, who was not part of any PSL franchise, was also suspended from all forms of cricket.
Reports said that Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif, during questioning by ACU, had claimed to officials that Jamshed had asked them to meet a person suspected to be part of an international betting syndicate. Interestingly, two years ago Jamshed was investigated by the Bangladesh Premier League ACU officials too.
Apart from the three, Islamabad United's Mohammed Irfan, Quetta Gladiators' Zulfiqar Babar and Shahzaib Hasan of the Karachi Kings were also questioned, but not suspended.
In India, after the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) took charge recently there have been quite a few changes in administration as the panel aims to bring in transparency and accountability.
It is quite possible that there might be changes in the BCCI ACU too, as hinted by Neeraj Kumar, though it seems no immediate changes would be effected as the IPL is exactly a month away.
When asked if any change in BCCI ACU composition is in the offing, the former top cop only said: “It is still in discussion.” Would he like to continue? “I’m continuing, of course. Why not?” said Neeraj Kumar. About the other members of the ACU, Kumar said that “They all are there and they’ll continue."
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When pointed out that the BCCI office-bearers who appointed him and his team were there no more, Kumar smiled and said: “Our appointment has nothing to do with them. Ours is independent appointment.”
The IPL starts on April 5 and ends on May 21. Currently, the ICC ACSU is monitoring the ongoing four-Test India-Australia series.
