Image Source: The Hindustan Times
A panel appointed by the Supreme Court of India has suspended two Indian Premier League teams, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) for two years over a corruption scandal.
The teams have been found guilty in an illegal betting and match-fixing probe. Also, the panel suspended Royals co-owner Raj Kundra and Gurunath Meiyappan of Super Kings from all cricket-related activities for life. The IPL form of cricket is the richest of the world’s Twenty20 cricket leagues,with top Indian and international players take part each spring. Chennai Super Kings are led by India skipper MS Dhoni, while the Royals are led by the Australian batsman Steve Smith. Chennai have reached four finals, winning in 2010 and 2011. The Royals won the inaugural tournament in 2008.
The three-member panel made the recommendations, which are binding, on Tuesday. It stated that the suspension of the two teams was to protect “the integrity of the game”.
Correspondents say the developments will come as a blow to the eight-team league and raise questions about how the Indian cricket board, which runs the tournament, will find replacements to fill the two empty places. Failure to find replacements would ultimately lead to considerable loss of huge revenues for the league.
