25 March 2024 last updated at 19:12 GMT
 
Verdict will restore people's faith, says Mudgal
Wednesday 15 July 2015

The suspension of Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals is only a temporary setback to the IPL and the Lodha Committee verdict will actually help restore people's faith in the League, says Justice Mukul Mudgal, who headed the Committee, which probed the IPL betting scam.

Two-time champions CSK and inaugural winners Rajasthan Royals (RR) were today suspended for two years and their respective co-owners Gurunath Meiyappan and Raj Kundra were suspended for life from being involved in all activities related to cricket matches for bringing game to disrepute.

"This is a very strong punishment. I think it will have a good affect on IPL, BCCI and the players. Many people feel it will have an adverse affect on the game but I think this is a temporary setback and cricket will come out cleaner and people's faith on IPL will be restored," Mudgal said.

The punishment was handed by a Supreme Court-appointed three-member committee headed by former CJI R M Lodha.

Former BCCI Secretary Niranjan Shah said BCCI could have avoided such a situation if it had taken proper action earlier on the matter.

"I think BCCI took whatever action was to be taken although it was slow. They did not visualise that this would go to Supreme Court. We could have avoided this earlier, we have to take a lesson," he said.

Former BCCI president AC Muthiah said, "Whatever has happened in BCCI, nobody stood up for the wrong doing. All this rules were already in place but they were done to suit individuals. I think, IPL should be kept alive and BCCI needs to distance itself from IPL. It should be run by an independent body comprising eminent people."

BCCI lawyer, C Aryama Sundaram said he did not entirely agree with the decision to suspend the two teams for such a long period of time.

"It doesn't surprise me that Gurunath Meiyappan and Raj Kundra have been found guilty and so the punishment wasn't unexpected either. I do find a slight problem on purely legal platform as to the suspension of the two teams for that long period," he said.

PTI

ICC lacks strong leadership in current times: ex-CEO Lorgat
The former ICC boss said barring Khawaja's peace slogans on shoes showed ICC lacked consistency in applying its rules
Waugh warns cricket boards for ignoring Test cricket
Australia Great Warns ICC, BCCI Over 'Irrelevant Legacy'