MCA not to appeal Ankeet Chavan's plea to the BCCI
The Mumbai Cricket Association has declined Ankeet Chavan's request to appeal against the BCCI's decision that banned him for life for his supposed involvement in the IPL corruption scandal in 2013. The MCA is resolute to not interfere in the matter as Chavan has been found guilty of breaching the BCCI code of conduct.
"Ankeet Chavan, who has been cleared of MCOCA [Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act] charges, requested us in an email to convince BCCI to lift the ban on him. But the BCCI has already sent an email to MCA clearing the factual position on this issue," Ashish Shelar, the MCA vice-president, told reporters after the MCA managing committee meeting on Sunday.
"The MCA has therefore decided that it would not challenge BCCI's action against Ankeet which was taken by the disciplinary committee as per the anti-corruption code. So, we have rejected his request. We unanimously decided that the action against such a player should continue because the court ruling is only on MCOCA. The player has not challenged the BCCI's ruling, so how can we?", he added.
Ban on these players will stay: Thakur
Chavan is one of the three cricketers from the Rajasthan Royals franchise against whom a chargesheet has been filed by the Delhi Police after their arrest in May 2013. He was released by a Delhi trial court last week. The Kerala Cricket Association on the other hand has requested the BCCI to lift the ban on Sreesanth, one of the most high-profile player who was arrested in 2013.
BCCI seceratary Anurag Thakur had clarified that the court ruling would not be affected by the BCCI's decision. "Criminal proceedings are entirely different to the disciplinary proceedings. The decision has been taken by the BCCI's disciplinary committee, not by a court of law," Thakur had told ESPNcricinfo. "Action has been taken against the players on the report of our anti-corruption unit. As per the BCCI rules and regulations, the ban on these players will stay."
Ajit Chandila was the third player from Rajasthan Royals to get arrested. The BCCI disciplinary committee is yet to decide his fate. The committee is headed by BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya, who will take a decision later this month.