Two of those players were earlier part of the now-suspended IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings.
Following the arrest of three bookies from Kanpur's Hotel Landmark for betting during the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), the speed at which Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) Anti Corruption & Security Unit (ACSU) is working on giving clean chits to suspected players has put a question mark over the investigations carried out so far.
According to sources, the CCTV footage of the hotel's 17th floor on which alleged bookies — Ramesh Nayan Shah, Ramesh Kumar and Vikas Chauhan — were operating shows that three leading players of Gujarat Lions entered Room No 1733 along with mastermind bookie Bunty before their game against Delhi Daredevils in Kanpur on Wednesday.
Two of those players were earlier part of the now-suspended IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings.
Kanpur police has said,"If needed, these players will be called for interrogation."
However, the big question is why was Bunty allowed to leave the hotel if there was enough material to suggest his involvement in the betting racket? Especially since the Kanpur Police is busy carrying out raids in Ajmer to arrest Bunty now.
It has also come to light that Bunty allegedly sent a text message to his Dubai link, confirming that "Gujarat's players have been managed and they will lose the game". One of those players from Gujarat is the same whose name is believed to be in the list of 13 names submitted to Supreme Court in a sealed envelope by Justice Mukul Mudgal-led team in 2015 after the 2013 IPL spot-fixing scandal.
With BCCI's ACSU chief Neeraj Kumar distributing clean chits to "all players" without proper investigation, many top Board officials are unhappy with the message it sends to the public.
"As per BCCI's constitution, ACSU reports directly to Board president. Since the Board is in shambles right now, it is the duty of Committee of Administrators (COA) to ensure that thorough investigation is carried out in this case," a senior BCCI official told DNA on Saturday.
It was for lack of any law against betting and match-fixing in 2013 that former Test bowler S Sreesanth along with domestic spinners Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila were let off despite being arrested by Delhi Police for their alleged involvement in spot-fixing in 2013 IPL.
"ACSU chief was the Delhi's police commissioner then. If he failed to nail any player then, how can you expect a different outcome now when he has no power whatsoever?" added the official.
Nayan Shah has played under-19 cricket for Maharashtra but later took to betting after failing to make it big in cricket. Shah hired local Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association contractor Ramesh for a handsome amount to provide him inside information about the pitch and getting access to local staff at the Green Park stadium in Kanpur.
Spot-fixing: past cases
Former Test bowler S Sreesanth along with spinners Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila were let off despite being arrested by the police for their alleged involvement in spot-fixing in 2013 IPL.
Ramesh Nayan Shah, one of the alleged bookies, has played under-19 cricket for Maharashtra but later took to betting after failing to make it big in cricket.
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