Mumbai/Delhi: Indian cricket fans on Thursday woke up to a shocking news of the arrest of international cricketer S Sreesanth along with his two Rajasthan Royals team-mates Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan by Delhi Police for spot-fixing in Indian Premier League matches.
Like others, Rajasthan Royals skipper Rahul Dravid, authorities, officials and other team-mates too were in a state of shock and were finding it hard to digest the news. Reacting to the incident, Dravid said that he was shocked, disappointed and distressed. “I am shocked, disappointed, and distressed by the events that have resulted in the arrests last night and this morning. Rajasthan Royals is a special team, where we have always operated like a family – so this is particularly devastating,” said Dravid, adding that spot fixing and corruption have hung over the game of cricket, and I know that the BCCI and RR take the same zero tolerance view of the situation.
“The RR owners and management have made their zero tolerance views clear on every possible occasion, and I am sure that they will support any action taken. For me, as a captain and leader, I have to focus on ensuring that the team fulfill their enormous potential and continue to play in the ‘Rajasthan Royals’ way. Our players are devastated that our performances may have been affected, as they have a desire to win that has been evident throughout the tournament. I hope that our fans get behind us even more, and that we become stronger as a unit – which often happens in times of adversity,” said Dravid.
Meanwhile Paddy Upton, Coach, Rajasthan Royals, said, “As Rahul says, the Rajasthan Royals environment is a special one, where we focus on teamship, focus on the cricket, identify new players and promote young players to the front line. We challenge inexperience to compete with the most experienced – and that approach has risks. Today has seen an unfurling of events that have left us all shocked and disappointed, and we will support the franchise, the BCCI and the authorities in taking necessary actions to root out an evil that plagues our game.”
“However, we will not let the team lose its focus on completing what has been a magnificent tournament. We cannot let ‘bad eggs’ ruin the game that we all love, affect the values that RR holds dear, and destroy an environment that we have worked hard to take to a new level,” Upton added.
Meanwhile Team Management, Rajasthan Royals stated that they fully support the statements issued by the BCCI President N Srinivasan earlier in the afternoon. “We must all have zero-tolerance to match fixing and corruption. Should these allegations be proven, we will support the strongest of actions. We are supporting the BCCI and the authorities fully , and we will continue to do so,” said the statement.
By ISN
