BCCI to decide action against arrested

The BCCI's all-powerful working committee will hold an emergency meeting here tomorrow to discuss the fallout of the controversy and decide the future course of action against the three arrested cricketers.

The BCCI is under intense pressure to take a tough stand as it is a second case of spot-fixing in the cash-rich IPL and indications are that they could even contemplate handing out life bans on the basis of preliminary report by its anti-corruption unit.

The Board's anti-corruption unit chief Ravi Sawani is also expected to be present at the meeting and brief the members on the issue which has cast a shadow on the league.

With one controversy after another rocking the league since its inception in 2008, the working committee will discuss at length, measures to restore the event's credibility.

BCCI President N Srinivasan and IPL Chairman Rajeev Shukla have also promised stringent action against those found guilty and it remains to be seen whether immediate punishments are handed down even though the inquiry report is still awaited.

Sawani has been given 30 days time to submit his preliminary report but some Board members are in no mood to wait for so long and are pressing for a strong message to be sent out immediately.

"The Working Committee will discuss, among other things, the fallout of the spot-fixing controversy in the ongoing IPL, in which three players have been arrested by the Delhi Police," the BCCI statement issued yesterday has stated.

A special cell of the Delhi police arrested India pacer S Sreesanth and his Rajasthan Royals teammates -- Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan -- for indulging in spot-fixing in at least three IPL matches as per arrangements with bookies who have underworld connections abroad.

The players, who have been suspended by the BCCI, have been brought to Delhi and charged under section 420 (cheating) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC.

The Board has also suspended first-class cricketer Amit Singh, who is allegedly a bookmaker now and was arrested along with 10 other bookies on May 16. IPL Chairman Rajeev Shukla has already warned of "strongest possible action" against players found guilty.

"We have called an emergency Working Committee meeting in Chennai on Sunday. We will discuss the entire issue before deciding the future course of action," Shukla said.

"We will be taking some important decisions. The strongest possible action will be taken against the guilty. Whoever is found to be involved in spot-fixing, will not be spared," he said. Shukla said the IPL Governing Council will try its best to keep the tournament clean and ensure that it's image does not take a further beating.