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Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag said it was players’ responsibility to keep them away from the illegal activities and spot-fixing after an Under-19 player was arrested for providing information to the betting syndicate.
The Uttar Pradesh police on Thursday arrested three people in Kanpur suspected of illegal betting during the match between Gujarat Lions and Delhi Daredevils.
It was learned that Nayan Shah, was the kingpin and he allegedly tampered with the Kanpur pitch at Green Park which hosted the Gujarat Lions vs Delhi Daredevils match on Wednesday.
On the day of a game, Shah was on the floor in the hotel where the Gujarat Lions players were staying for the match against Delhi Daredevils. The Uttar Pradesh police are now probing links to the Gujarat Lions players.
Sehwag said security personnel can’t stop betting if a player really wants to do it. “You can’t stop these things. No (amount of) security can stop (these things) if a player wants to do it,” Sehwag said.
“You can’t stop these things. It’s player’s responsibility to see who he is meeting. If my mind is clean, I can meet anyone.
“No matter how much security you keep in place, no one can do anything if a player wants to do something. If someone can prove a single thing against me I would say I would retire; now I say to wipe off my records. If a player takes such responsibilities, these people will not be able to meet them,” said Sehwag.
“I don’t know how many strangers I may have met. It’s my responsibility to ensure only my friend comes and not his friend. The player has to be aware,” Sehwag said.
“This game gives you a lot. If you spoil your image, you lose your image in society. People love this game here and if some thing goes wrong with the game, things will be said about you which no player would want.”
The same venue will host another game between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Gujarat Lions on May 13.
“The Anti-Corruption Unit of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has been tracking activities of certain individuals, as a result of which, three suspects were arrested,” BCCI said in a statement on Thursday.
“Following this operation, the Uttar Pradesh Police Crime Branch could successfully foil the alleged betting attempts of the accused,” it added.
(With PTI inputs)
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