Former Pakistan cricketer Tanveer Ahmed has raised serious allegations against the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Indian Premier League (IPL) following the Rajasthan Royals' recent match against Lucknow Super Giants in Jaipur.
Ahmed, speaking on social media platform X, alleged that the majority of IPL teams are linked with match-fixers. "BCCI boasts about the IPL being the world’s biggest league. Yes, it is, but it is also the largest platform for fixing, with most teams in the hands of fixers," he wrote.
The controversy deepened with suggestions from Jaideep Bihani, Convenor of the Ad Hoc Committee of the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA), accusing Rajasthan Royals of match-fixing after their narrow losses to Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants. Bihani criticised the team's failure to secure nine runs in the final over of these matches
Rajasthan Royals have categorically dismissed the allegations as "completely false and baseless". The team has issued a strongly-worded letter to the Rajasthan government and the state's Sports Council demanding firm action against Bihani.
From the BCCI's perspective, an insider characterised these claims as groundless, emphasizing that, "the RCA is currently dissolved. An ad-hoc committee has been formed and, with approaching elections, there is much spectacle. Everyone is seeking attention." The BCCI official reiterated that its anti-corruption unit is vigilant in protecting the IPL's integrity against fraudulent activities, asserting, "There is no truth to these allegations."
Ongoing Discussions on Integrity
This accusation reignites longstanding debates about the integrity of one of the cricketing world’s most popular competitions, as the IPL maintains its vast audience both within India and internationally.