More than seven years ago, when the Indian Premier League burst onto the cricket scene and changed the way its economics worked, the first finalists were two well-funded teams from Chennai and Rajasthan respectively. The winner of the very first tournament back in 2008 were the Rajasthan Royals, who beat the Chennai Super Kings. Next year, when (or if?) the ninth season of the tournament revs up, both of those teams will be missing – because they've been suspended for being involved in a corruption scandal as explosive as any IPL final.
On Tuesday, a panel headed by former Chief Justice of India Rajendra Mal Lodha announced the quantum of punishment against the Chennai Super Kings, the Rajasthan Royals and their respective promoters, Gurunath Meiyappan and Raj Kundra. All have been hit pretty hard: the two franchises have been suspended for two years, while both Meiyappan and Kundra have been banned from cricket for life.
The punishments help close one of the uglier chapter in the always-ostentatious narrative of the Indian Premier League, which truly brought big money to what was once known as the "gentleman's game." The IPL is a hugely lucrative domestic cricket league in India which involves the shortest format of the sport, known as T20, played by eight teams over the course of a month every year. After years of money seemingly flowing around the league like water, the Supreme Court in 2013 ordered a separate panel to look into longstanding allegations of corruption connected to the league.
Big names
The Mudgal Panel in its final report, cleared International Cricket Council chairman N Srinivasan of any involvement in match-fixing, but did say that he had been aware of violations of the players code of conduct that he did not report. His son-in-law, Gurunath Meiyappan, however was found to have been involved in betting while also associated with the Chennai Super Kings as a team official. Raj Kundra, the co-owner of the Rajasthan Royals, was also found to have been involved in betting.
Meiyappan and Kundra have now been suspended from being involved in cricket in any form for the rest of their lives. Meanwhile, the suspension of the two teams for the next two years means they will also have to figure out the entire economy around them. Reports suggest that the players from the teams will be allowed to play for other teams, and that the IPL might even consider opening up the league to other franchises.
The league has clearly been handed a body blow, not least because of the prominence of the two teams, both of which made it to the playoffs in this year's IPL as well. The verdict hits Chennai Super Kings in particular, because its owner, N Srinivasan, also happens to be ICC chairman and a key player in cricketing politics across the spectrum. While the league was properly sullied after the arrest of three players in 2013 in connection with the alleged fixing and betting scandal, the actual suspension of teams makes it completely official: with great money comes great scandals, even if it is the gentleman's game.
"We thought that if cricket is bigger than individuals, or groups of individuals, than financial loss to players and franchises is not of significance to consider the financial situation of players who belong to these franchises," Lodha said, while reading out the verdict.
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On Tuesday, a panel headed by former Chief Justice of India Rajendra Mal Lodha announced the quantum of punishment against the Chennai Super Kings, the Rajasthan Royals and their respective promoters, Gurunath Meiyappan and Raj Kundra. All have been hit pretty hard: the two franchises have been suspended for two years, while both Meiyappan and Kundra have been banned from cricket for life.
Gurunath Meiyappan suspended for life from being involved in activities related to any type of cricket matches: SC panel.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 14, 2015
Meiyappan's betting activities brought the game to disrepute and bad name to BCCI, IPL and cricket: Justice Lodha panel.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 14, 2015
Similar sanctions have also been imposed on Raj Kundra, co owner of Rajasthan Royals for betting.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 14, 2015
The punishments help close one of the uglier chapter in the always-ostentatious narrative of the Indian Premier League, which truly brought big money to what was once known as the "gentleman's game." The IPL is a hugely lucrative domestic cricket league in India which involves the shortest format of the sport, known as T20, played by eight teams over the course of a month every year. After years of money seemingly flowing around the league like water, the Supreme Court in 2013 ordered a separate panel to look into longstanding allegations of corruption connected to the league.
Big names
The Mudgal Panel in its final report, cleared International Cricket Council chairman N Srinivasan of any involvement in match-fixing, but did say that he had been aware of violations of the players code of conduct that he did not report. His son-in-law, Gurunath Meiyappan, however was found to have been involved in betting while also associated with the Chennai Super Kings as a team official. Raj Kundra, the co-owner of the Rajasthan Royals, was also found to have been involved in betting.
Meiyappan and Kundra have now been suspended from being involved in cricket in any form for the rest of their lives. Meanwhile, the suspension of the two teams for the next two years means they will also have to figure out the entire economy around them. Reports suggest that the players from the teams will be allowed to play for other teams, and that the IPL might even consider opening up the league to other franchises.
Eventually only Delhi will be left in the IPL and it will still come fifth.
— Remember The Tuskers (@sidin) July 14, 2015The league has clearly been handed a body blow, not least because of the prominence of the two teams, both of which made it to the playoffs in this year's IPL as well. The verdict hits Chennai Super Kings in particular, because its owner, N Srinivasan, also happens to be ICC chairman and a key player in cricketing politics across the spectrum. While the league was properly sullied after the arrest of three players in 2013 in connection with the alleged fixing and betting scandal, the actual suspension of teams makes it completely official: with great money comes great scandals, even if it is the gentleman's game.
"We thought that if cricket is bigger than individuals, or groups of individuals, than financial loss to players and franchises is not of significance to consider the financial situation of players who belong to these franchises," Lodha said, while reading out the verdict.