The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Ombudsman Vineet Saran has overturned the life ban of former Rajasthan Royals spinner Ajit Chandila and reduced it to seven years.
Chandila was banned for life after his alleged involvement in the spot-fixing scandal which rocked the cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL) in the 2013 season. Former India pacers S Sreesanth and Ankeet Chavan were also handed life bans from cricket for their involvement in the scandal.
The BCCI had overturned Sreesanth and Chavan’s bans a couple of years back. Subsequently, Sreesanth went on to play for his side Kerala while Chavan resumed playing for his club team in Mumbai.
In his report, Saran wrote, “The present matter arises out of Case Crime No 20/2013 dated 09.05.2013 registered with the Special Cell of Dell Police against the Applicant on allegations of spot-fixing in cricket matches of Indian Premier League (“IPL”). Pending inquiry, BCCI suspended the Applicant from all cricketing activities on 17.05.2013. Apart from the criminal proceedings initiated against the Applicant, Disciplinary proceedings were also initiated against him by BCCI. Accordingly, the Applicant’s Representation dated 04.11.2019 is accepted and his prayer for granting him parity with Sreesanth and Ankeet Chavan is allowed. The life ban imposed on him by Order of BCCI Disciplinary Committee dated 18.01.2016 is reduced to a period of seven (7) years from 18.01.2016.”
Now, Chandila’s ban period has come to an end from January 18 and he will be free to get back to the field as well.