IPL fixing: Chandila, Shah to learn fate next month

BCCI’s disciplinary panel questions Chandila, defers sanctions.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India’s disciplinary committee deferred a decision on the tainted duo of Ajit Chandila and Hiken Shah till January 5, giving them time till January 4 to file a written response to the charges of spot-fixing against them.

The three-member committee, comprising president Shashank Manohar, Jyotiraditya Scindya and Niranjan Shah, met at the board’s headquarters, Cricket Centre, in Mumbai, and postponed a decision on possible sanctions on the players until January 5 next year.

Chandila was arrested by the police for allegedly trying to spot-fix IPL games in 2013 along with his Rajasthan Royals’ teammates Shantakumaran Sreesanth and Ankit Chavan, who both have been banned for life by the BCCI.

- IPL spot-fixing saga

Shah allegedly approached one of his colleagues in first-class cricket, who was also a member of one of the IPL teams.

The approached player reported the approach to his franchise, which passed on the information to Anti Corruption Unit of the BCCI. The ACU chief, Ravi Sawani, was also present at Thursday’s meeting.

After the meeting, off-spinner Chandila said, "The new disciplinary committee members asked me the same questions as were asked by Delhi police. I have said whatever I told Delhi Police. Everyone knows what the court has said. I hope I will get justice from this new committee. I don't know when the verdict will be given.

"I was asked questions by Shashankji, Niranjanji and Scindiaji via video conference. Ravi Sawani was also there. I also received a transcript of the questions asked and answers given."

Shah, on the other hand, was reported for allegedly making an "inappropriate offer" to one of his teammates in Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy squad.

The committee also decided to issue a notice to former Pakistan umpire Asad Rauf to respond to the charges against him.

Rauf, who was chargesheeted in the spot-fixing case, was declared a "wanted accused" along with 15 bookies from Pakistan. He, however, claimed innocence and hasn’t visited India since then.