IPL shock: Three Indian cricketers held for ‘fixing’

Three Indian cricketers including Test bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth have been arrested over allegations of spot-fixing in the Indian Premier League (IPL), police and the country’s cricket board said.
Sreesanth’s family said he was innocent.
Eleven bookmakers were also arrested in connection with the inquiry, said Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar, as he gave details of three games in the ongoing IPL at the center of the corruption probe.
According to AFP, Kumar said more bookmakers were expected to be arrested as part of the inquiry which has already seen the accused players suspended by cricket authorities. Spot-fixing is an illegal activity where a specific part of a game, but not the outcome, is fixed.
Sreesanth is alleged to have been paid four million rupees (about $ 75,000, SR 281,250) to give away around 14 runs in an over while playing for the Rajasthan Royals against the Kings XI Punjab on May 9.
Sreesanth’s mother Savithridevi told PTI that “my son will never betray cricket”.
The three players were produced before a Delhi court yesterday. Angry fans burnt posters of the players during a protest in Bangalore.
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Sports Minister Jitendra Singh described the arrests as “unfortunate” and called on the authorities to take strict action against the players if they are found guilty.
Kumar said: “There is definite proof that the underworld is involved but it would be wrong to take names.”
Rajasthan Royals are captained by legendary Indian batsman Rahul Dravid and owned by Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty and her businessman husband Raj Kundra.
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