NEW DELHI — Three Indian cricketers and 11 bookmakers were in police custody Thursday over allegations of spot-fixing in the Indian Premier League. The players — S. Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila — are all from the Rajasthan Royals team. The team said it had “a zero-tolerance approach to anything that is against the spirit of the game”, and India's cricket board suspended the players. There has been no word from the cricketers themselves. Spot-fixing involves illegally rigging parts of a match, for example by timing the delivery of a deliberate wide or no-ball, to benefit bookmakers or those betting on matches. Fast bowler Sreesanth has represented India in many international games. He has played 27 Tests and 53 one-day internationals. At a press conference Thursday afternoon, Delhi police chief Neeraj Kumar gave out the details of what he called the “spot-fixing scam”. He said: “There was an agreement between bookies [bookmakers] and players that in a certain over they would give away minimum amount of runs. The bookies also gave them directions that they have to indicate that they are ready to give away those many runs. “The indications that players had to give bookies included rotating their watches, putting towels in their pants, taking out locket from shirt, taking out shirt and vest that you're wearing, make signs with jersey.” Kumar said the team matches on May 5 with Pune, May 9 with Punjab and May 15 with Mumbai were fixed. “There is definite proof that the underworld is involved but it would be wrong to take names. There is no concrete evidence on the basis of which I can name any member of the underworld,” he said. Sreesanth, 30, and his two teammates, who have yet to play for India, were arrested by Delhi police in Mumbai after Wednesday night's match and were brought to the national capital for questioning, Kumar said. On Thursday evening, the players were produced before a Delhi court by police. “The cricketers and others arrested in the case will be in police custody for the next five days,” a senior law enforcement official said. The Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) suspended the three players. “The IPL governing council has met and decided that the cricketers found involved will be dealt with severely,” the board said in a statement. BCCI chief N Srinivasan said. “I don't know about others but I am shocked, the BCCI never expected it. It was a bolt from the blue,” he said. The sixth season of the IPL, considered to be the world's showcase for Twenty20 cricket, is currently under way in India. — Agencies
