Former cricketers and officials react to IPL verdict

New Delhi: The suspension of Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals is only a temporary setback to the IPL and the Lodha Committee verdict will actually help restore people's faith in the League, says Justice Mukul Mudgal, who headed the Committee which probed the IPL betting scam.

Former India wicket-keeper Syed Kirmani said," It is unfortunate that such malpractices have cropped in the game. I think it is unfortunate for the players of these two teams. They have been playing at the highest level. So where they gonna go. But I guess it won't matter as there are so many tournaments."

Syed Kirmani

The social networking site was abuzz with reactions from former players such as Sanjay Manjrekar and Bishan Bedi. Manjrekar tweeted: "Whatever needs to be done to get complete trust of the fans in the game has to be done. Fans make or break this game."

Bedi wrote: "Justice Lodha committee after Justice Mudgal findings comes as breath of fresh air, but only just! There's more muck for Cricket 2 breathe afresh!"

Two-time champions CSK and inaugural winners Rajasthan Royals (RR) were today suspended for two years and their respective co-owners Gurunath Meiyappan and Raj Kundra were suspended for life from being involved in all activities related to cricket matches for bringing game to disrepute.

"This is a very strong punishment. I think it will have a good affect on IPL, BCCI and the players. Many people feel it will have an adverse affect on the game but I think this is a temporary setback and cricket will come out cleaner and people's faith on IPL will be restored," Mudgal said.

The punishment was handed by a Supreme Court-appointed three-member committee headed by former CJI R M Lodha. Former BCCI Secretary Niranjan Shah said BCCI could have avoided such a situation if it had taken proper action earlier on the matter.

"I think BCCI took whatever action was to be taken although it was slow. They did not visualise that this would go to Supreme Court. We could have avoided this earlier, we have to take a lesson," he said.

Former BCCI president AC Muthiah said, "Whatever has happened in BCCI, nobody stood up for the wrong doing. All this rules were already in place but they were done to suit individuals. I think, IPL should be kept alive and BCCI needs to distance itself from IPL. It should be run by an independent body comprising eminent people."

BCCI lawyer, C Aryama Sundaram said he did not entirely agree with the decision to suspend the two teams for such a long period of time.

"It doesn't surprise me that Gurunath Meiyappan and Raj Kundra have been found guilty and so the punishment wasn't unexpected either. I do find a slight problem on purely legal platform as to the suspension of the two teams for that long period," he said.

"It was found it was an individual act, done by a person. The team itself didn't indulge in match fixing activity. So unless you find a team is collectively to be blamed, I do wonder if the team should be meted with such consequence. I think it is an upset for the entire league," Sundaram added.

Former BCCI chief Inderjit Singh Bindra also hailed the decision. "A historic and landmark order. Beginning of the process of cleansing Indian cricket. I do hope that BCCI learns the right lessons," he wrote on his twitter handle. Bindra also said that ICC Chairman N Srinivasan, father-in-law of Meiyappan, should also be put to task by BCCI for his role.

"Srini is obviously guilty of protecting Guru and CSK. BCCI should take immediate action against him by withdrawing his nomination to ICC. NS (Srinivasan) has no moral authority to continue as head of ICC. He should step down immediately, failing which Board should take action," he tweeted.