NEW DELHI — India Test cricketer Shantakumaran Sreesanth has denied spot-fixing after being arrested in a scandal in the cash-rich Indian Premier League, while he and two teammates from his Rajasthan-based team remain in police custody. “I'm innocent and have done no wrong,” Sreesanth said in a statement released through his lawyer. “I've never indulged in any spot-fixing.” Sreesanth said he was confident he would be proved innocent even though police claim to have enough evidence against the players. “As a cricketer, I've learnt to take knocks along with accolades, in my stride,” he said. “I recognize that I'm going through a tough period in my life. I have utmost faith in our judicial process and I'm confident that with time I'll be proved innocent, and my honor and dignity will be vindicated and restored.” Meanwhile, a lawyer for Sreesanth said Wednesday that police were seeking to tarnish her client's reputation. Rebecca John said police involved in the corruption probe were “deliberately planting leaks” in the media against her client Sreesanth. John's comments came a day after Sreesanth and his two teammates were refused bail following their court appearance over the scandal. Sreesanth was arrested last week along with fellow bowlers Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan and provisionally suspended by the Board of Control for Cricket in India. They are accused of conceding above a certain number of runs per over in exchange for up to 6 million rupees ($110,000) each from gamblers. Police claim they have evidence to prove the allegations, including recorded phone conversations with bookmakers and have also recovered two million rupees ($36,500) from a kit bag belonging to Chandila. — Agencies
