BCCI to educate young players on spot-fixing

The BCCI's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) has stepped up its education programme for young players in the country about the dangers of spot-fixing and corruption in cricket. Players from various age groups will attend sessions with officers from the ACSU during the ongoing National Cricket Academy camps and the programme will be extended to other cities from next month.

"The anti-corruption unit of the BCCI has recently begun the education course for cricketers during the national camp for the Under-19 and U-15 players, held in Bangalore and Mysore. Ravi Sawani, director of anti-corruption unit, has planned the educational course. From July onwards these courses will start in every state association along with anti-doping procedures," BCCI game development manager Ratnakar Shetty told the Indian Express.

The development follows the recent spot-fixing scandal during the IPL where three cricketers - Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila - and 11 bookies were arrested and charged with fraud, cheating and criminal conspiracy. Sreesanth and Chavan have since been released on bail.

Sethu Madhavan, a senior investigation officer with the ACSU who held a session at the Mysore camp, said an ACSU officer will accompany each team during the upcoming Ranji Trophy season. He instructed the players not to discuss team combinations or disclose any information before the match starts, even to family members.

Madhavan has told players they could be punished for agreeing to fix even if not proceeding to do so, as well as failing to report an approach by a bookie. Players have been told to either inform the ACSU or the team manager when they receive a call from unknown people. The issue of failing to report approaches by bookies was highlighted with the news of Siddharth Trivedi, another Royals player, facing possible suspension for the same offence, even though he has said he did not pay heed to their demands and will be a witness for the Delhi police.