A policeman walks previous a emblem of the Board of Management for Cricket in India (BCCI) throughout a governing council assembly of the Indian Premier League (IPL) at BCCI headquarters in Mumbai April 26, 2010.— Reuters
The Board of Management for Cricket in India (BCCI) have petitioned the nation’s prime courtroom to make match-fixing a prison offence in a bid to ramp up the stress on unlawful bookmakers and bent gamers.
BCCI, the world’s richest cricket physique, has argued to the Supreme Courtroom that “the act of match-fixing constitutes a criminal offence”.
The BCCI stated it had stepped as much as shield the game, in courtroom paperwork seen by AFP on Thursday.
“The prevalence of corrupt practices in cricket matches has an adverse impact on the game and undermines the integrity of the sport,” the BCCI wrote in paperwork filed with the courtroom registrar on October 14.
The BCCI’s authorized argument is that match-fixing counts as dishonest by deception — an present offence below the Indian Penal Code (IPC) — and due to this fact ought to be counted as a criminal offense.
The case continues.
The enchantment stems from allegations of match-fixing throughout a state cricket league in 2018-2019 in Karnataka involving six individuals —together with two gamers, the coach and crew proprietor.
The Excessive Courtroom within the southern state dismissed it as a prison case in 2022.
The primary main scandal in Indian cricket to make headlines erupted in April 2000 when police intercepted calls between bookmakers and South Africa captain Hansie Cronje throughout his crew’s tour of India.
Cronje confessed to throwing matches and named India’s then captain Mohammad Azharuddin as the one who launched him to bookmakers.
The BCCI instituted its personal anti-corruption codes in 2019, which give the board the facility to problem fines and lifelong bans.
“Public confidence in the authenticity and integrity of the sporting contest is vital,” the code reads, submitted to the courtroom.
“If that confidence is undermined, then the very essence of cricket will be shaken to the core.”
One other fixing controversy broke out within the Indian Premier League in 2013 when gamers and officers from Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Tremendous Kings had been discovered concerned in spot-fixing and betting actions.
Key gamers had been banned for breaching the BCCI’s code of conduct and the groups suspended for 2 years.
Neighbouring Sri Lanka launched robust legal guidelines to deal with match-fixing in 2019, together with as much as 10 years in jail and fines of INR100 million ($333,000).
That got here after then sports activities minister Harin Fernando stated the sport was riddled with graft “from top to bottom”.
Sri Lanka’s former spin bowler Sachithra Senanayake turned the primary to be prosecuted below the regulation in June. He denies wrongdoing.
