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The International Cricket Council is reportedly probing Indian player Suresh Raina’s link with an associate of an illegal bookmaker. ICC’s Anti Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) has questioned the Indian board’s (Board for Control of Cricket in India) move of ignoring reports of Raina’s meeting with a woman linked with the bookie during the Indian team’s tour of Sri Lanka.
While not accusing Indian batsman of any ‘wrongdoing,’ a report emerging in UK-based broadsheet The Sunday Times quoted a senior ICC official as saying the cricket’s governing body is questioning BCCI’s lack of action.
In a move to heighten security, the Sri Lankan cricket board (SLC) has implemented the use CCTV cameras in team hotels and stadiums during tours of foreign teams and it was on these cameras that Raina was seen with the unnamed woman during India’s tour of Sri Lanka in July-August this year.
Camera footage showed Raina in the company of the women allegedly associated with an illegal bookmaker on more than one occasion. This led to the SLC sending a report to its Indian counterpart following the tour. The BCCI, however, failed to act on the report and has also been alleged of asking SLC to withdraw it.
ACSU officials have also questioned SLC’s move of sending the report to the BCCI instead of informing the governing body directly.
The 23-year-old cricketer plays for Indian Cements owned franchise Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League. BCCI Secretary N. Srinivasan, meanwhile, is the managing director and vice-chairman of the company, bringing his role in the controversy under question.
The ICC and BCCI are yet to release officials statements regarding the reports.
