Chennai, May 19 (Agencies): Rajasthan Royals will file a criminal complaint against its three cricketers arrested for spot-fixing even as a rattled BCCI said it would follow the rulebook before handing down punishment to the tainted trio, while unveiling measures to check corruption in the IPL.
Addressing a crowded press conference after an emergent meeting of the Board's Working Committee, BCCI President N Srinivasan promised to tackle strongest possible action against the players if they are found guilty.
All cricketers' agents will now need to be accredited to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) while an anti-corruption official of the board will be assigned to each Indian Premier League (IPL) team, Srinivasan announced.
The BCCI, at its emergency working committee meeting here, also announced an internal probe into the spot-fixing scandal involving three Rajasthan Royals players - S. Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan - who were arrested in Mumbai late Wednesday by Delhi Police.
Amongst others attending the meeting were former India captain Ravi Shastri (BCCI technical committee representative) and board secretary Sanjay Jagdale while IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla, IPL governing council member Arun Jaitley, and former India leg-spinner Anil Kumble joined through video conference.
As for the inquiry, Srinivasan said: "Ravi Sawani has been appointed as the commissioner to inquire into allegations against these players. His report will be submitted to the BCCI disciplinary committee."
Srinivasan said an Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) official of the Indian cricket board will accompany each team.
"An ACSU official will travel with the team. Access to players will be monitored closely," said Srinivasan.
The BCCI appointed its anti-corruption chief Ravi Sawani as the commissioner of inquiry and has told him to file his report "as soon as possible".
"We also invited the Rajasthan Royals owners and management to attend the meeting and brief the Working Committee on this incident. We were informed that they intend to file a police complaint against the three players," Srinivasan said.
"Everybody is innocent till proven guilty. The BCCI will not cover up for anybody but our actions must be fair. We will go through the process. If somebody is found guilty, we will act sternly," he added.
"It (the inquiry) will be done very quickly, it is an internal inquiry, we might need some information from the police. Rest is upto Mr Sawani but it will be quickly done. We have to observe all channels of natural justice. We have rules and BCCI's own system," he stressed.
The IPL was dealt a massive blow when a special cell of the Delhi police arrested India pacer S Sreesanth and his Rajasthan Royals teammates -- Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan -- on Thursday for indulging in spot-fixing in at least three IPL matches as per arrangements with bookies who have underworld connections abroad.