Sports Ministry asks BCCI to keep check on corruption in Indian Premier League

New Delhi: The Sports Ministry today asked the BCCI to furnish details on a number of issues, including mechanisms put in place by the Cricket Board, to ensure that unethical practices like betting and match-fixing do not take place during the upcoming IPL.

While the Ministry has made it clear that it has "no objection from sports angle" for conducting the IPL at "no cost to Government" subject to clearance from Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs, in a letter to the Chief Administrative Officer of the BCCI, Ratnakar Shetty, it has demanded some informations from the Board by April 10. "What mechanisms, BCCI have put in place to ensure that unethical practices like betting and match-fixing, etc. Do not take place during IPL-2014," the Sports Ministry asked the BCCI in a letter. It also added that the responsibility to deal with betting and match-fixing during the seventh edition of the Indian Premier League, to be held in United Arab Emirates and India from April 16-June 1, will rest with the BCCI. The Ministry asked the BCCI why a non-regular venue like UAE has been chosen to hold the first leg of IPL instead of a venue which is on the regular international calendar of the ICC. "Why a non-regular venue has been selected for holding some matches of IPL-2014 instead of choosing a venue which is on the regular international calendar of the ICC," the Ministry questioned in the letter. The UAE has been awarded the hosting rights of 20 matches in the IPL`s first leg from April 16-30 , before it returns to India on May 2. The Sports Ministry also made enquiries on the "amount of License fees paid to the International Cricket Council for IPL 2014". It has also urged the BCCI to contribute to the National Sports Development Fund based on either the percentage of profit from IPL-7 or consolidated lump sum. "BCCI is required to contribute towards National Sports Development Fund (NSDF). The amount of contribution to NSDF may please be specified which may be based on either the percentage of profit from IPL 2014 or consolidated lump sum," the letter said.