‘Completely false and baseless': Rajasthan Royals write to Rajasthan Sports Council after IPL match fixing allegations
The Rajasthan Royals (RR) have shot off a letter to the Rajasthan State Sports Council (RSSC) terming the match fixing allegations as 'completely false, baseless and devoid of any evidence' after Jaideep Bihani, Co-convenor of the ad hoc committee of the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA), alleged match fixing following RR's poor form and its two-run loss to the Lucknow Super Giants on April 19 in Jaipur.
Royal Multisport Private Limited (RMPL), which governs RR, said that Bihani's 'media statements are completely false, baseless and devoid of any evidence. We categorically deny and strongly object to each and every statement made by the Senior Official of RCA.'
It said that Bihani has also 'alleged that the RR management, in collusion with the RSSC and The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), is attempting to exclude RCA from participating in IPL. It is also alleged that RSSC is merely making committees and is not facilitating the functioning of a state cricket association,' while denying all these accusations. The letter was written to RSSC Chairperson Niraj K Pawan, who is also the Secretary in the Sports and Youth Affairs Department of the Rajasthan government.
Urging the state government 'to take all necessary steps and actions to curb and restrain such conduct,' RMPL has said that, 'These public allegations cause significant reputational damage, fuel unnecessary controversy, and attempt to mislead the public. They also serve to undermine the credibility of RMPL, the RR franchise, RSSC, BCCI, and the sport of cricket itself.'
A controversy had erupted after Bihani, who is also a BJP MLA from Gangangar, had told Dainik Bhaskar that, 'It was the home ground, they had to make few runs in the last over…anything can happen where tickets are being sold in black.' He had said that there should 'one hundred percent be an investigation' and also made allegations against Rajasthan Royals vice president Rajeev Khanna. Bihani had said that he will also meet Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and apprise him about the situation.
Going into the IPL, the RSSC and the RCA were locked in a tussle over hosting the IPL matches in Jaipur. The BCCI had eventually confirmed and approved RSSC for the hosting rights for IPL matches in Jaipur.
RSSC Chairperson Niraj K Pawan said, 'It is regrettable. It should not be so. If anyone has any evidence, then they should inform the appropriate agencies as IPL is a BCCI format and they don't compromise with their set format… BCCI is very strict with its rules and takes very strict measures. We believe that anything like match-fixing wouldn't have happened in Rajasthan, and that is what the Rajasthan Royals have said too (in their letter).'
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