[www.inewsguyana.com] – Indian Premier League sides Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals will be allowed to participate in the 2014 edition of the tournament during the next month.
The Supreme Court on Thursday said it would consider banning both franchises from the 2014 edition, to allow a thorough investigation into illegal betting and match-fixing allegations against them.
A leading figure in both franchises is being investigated.
A statement from Justice A.K. Patnaik and Justice Fakkir Mohamed Ibrahim Kalifulla on Friday stated that the teams would be allowed to play “to ensure that all those who love cricket continue to watch cricket in IPL 2014 and the matches are played by the players in accordance with the IPL Rules.”
West Indies stars Dwayne Bravo and Dwayne Smith are signed with the Super Kings while Trinidadian Kevon Cooper is on the roster at the Royals.
None of the three players are involved in the ongoing investigation. The Court also appointed Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar as interim President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, with special responsibility for overseeing the operations of the beleaguered but cash-rich IPL.
“We make it clear that we have not passed any order preventing any player or team from participating in the tournament 2014,” the Supreme Court said.
“Considering the fact that Mr. Sunil Gavaskar was a cricket player of great repute and eminence, a captain of the Indian cricket team for a long period and has a wide experience in cricket related activities and of men and matters, we appoint him, as an interim measure, to function as and exercise the powers of the president of the BCCI in relation to the IPL 2014 till we hear and deliver the judgment in these matters,” the statement noted.
Narayanaswami Srinivasan, the former BCCI President, heads the company that owns the Super Kings and the Court believes his presence was hampering the investigation.
[Extracted From CANANEWS]
