Royal Challengers Bangalore pacer Mohammed Siraj has reported a “corrupt approach” to BCCI’s Anti Corruption Unit (ACU) from an unidentified person who wanted “inside news” about his team after “losing a lot of money” in an IPL game.
The Indian pacer, who has taken the most wickets for RCB with eight scalps, claimed to have received a call and immediately informed the ACU officials about the incident.
At the Chinnaswamy Stadium, RCB’s last match against Chennai Super Kings ended in an eight-run defeat. Matheesha Parthirana, a Sri Lankan pace bowler, bowled two essential death overs that helped CSK win by limiting the host team to 218/8 in their pursuit of 226 runs.
“It wasn’t a bookie who approached Siraj. It is a driver from Hyderabad who is addicted to betting on matches. He had lost huge money and approached Siraj for inside information,” a senior BCCI source privy to the developments said.
“Siraj reported the approach immediately. The law enforcement authorities have nabbed the man. More details are awaited,” the source added.
Since the spot-fixing scam involving Shantakumaran Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan, Ajit Chandila, and former CSK team principal Gurunath Meiyappan was revealed in 2013, the BCCI had strengthened its ACU network.
Now, there is a dedicated ACU official for each team who stays in the same hotel and is on-site to keep an eye on all the activity.
Additionally, there is a required ACU training for players on the dos and don’ts, and sanctions are in force if any player fails to report a corrupt approach.
Shakib Al Hasan, the captain of Bangladesh, was suspended in 2021 as he failed to report a fraudulent scheme during the IPL.
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