NEW DELHI: Shocked and saddened by the arrest of S Sreesanth and two other cricketers on the charges of spot-fixing in IPL matches, former cricketers on Thursday demanded that the guilty should be sent to jail and handed life bans.
Sreesanth and his two Rajasthan Royals teammates, Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila, were arrested by Delhi police for questioning.
“It’s a black morning for me and for those who have played this gentleman’s game. It’s unfortunate and shocking that people of such repute are involved. There should be a strong penalty. They should be sent to jail for a minimum of 12 to 15 years and banned for life. Their records, whatever they have achieved should be erased,” former Indian wicket-keeper Syed Kirmani said.
Another former cricketer Kirti Azad said we do not have a good system in place that’s why these things continue to happen.
“This was to happen and it will happen again, if strong measures are not taken. I remember a case of spot fixing in England, the cricketers were caught, charge sheets were filed and they were jailed. But here, five boys were caught for spot fixing and I had suggested to BCCI that take this case on your own, let police handle,” Azad said.
They should be given life bans and not one-year bans. Here people try to hush up the matter and brush it under the carpet. It’s necessary that these cases be dealt by police and there should be set timeframe to fix the punishment,” Azad added.
Former captain and chief selector Ajit Wadekar said it was important that moral values be imparted to the youngsters.
“Very sad to hear this. It is good that BCCI is taking steps but prevention would have been better than cure. These players represent at national and international level, so you need to cut it out at the root.
“It should start right from the bottom. I have heard that in Ranji also it has been happening, though it has come down now. There are some 180 local tournaments in Mumbai. I am told that umpires also give favorable decisions. So the youngsters should be taught from a young age to give up the temptation.
Right at the root it must be cut out,” Wadekar said.-PTI
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