The bio-secure bubbles duly employed for the safe conduct of the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in UAE amid COVID-19 pandemic will also help the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) thwart the fixers from approaching the cricketers taking part in it, hopes the board's anti-corruption chief, Ajit Singh.
Singh told AFP the fact that all eight teams will remain isolated from the people outside, will make it easy "keeping a watch" on them, and "controlling interaction between players and others will not be very difficult" now.
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With the Middle East considered an epicentre of match-fixing back in the 90s, cricket authorities have since been wary of any wrong-doing on and off the field for matches played in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi.
Two liaison officers will be assigned to monitor each team during the 53-day IPL 2020, confirmed Singh, adding that players' Twitter comments will also be watched for coded messages as well. The authorities realise that social media can work as an unwanted bridge between the players and the illegal bookies.
The IPL has previously been engulfed with the controversy around fixing. A shocking scandal in 2013 season led to the suspension of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) for two years in 2016 and 2017.
The case also saw Royals' three cricketers, S Sreesanth, Ankit Chavan and Ajit Chandila banned for life after probe into allegations that they underperformed in return of cash.
Sreesanth fought a long court battle over the same and had his period of ban limited to seven years, which concludes in late 2020, by the Supreme Court of India.
Acknowledging the fact the IPL is a huge money-spinner for all stakeholders and is hence, also an attractive property for the bookies, fixers intent on ruining the sport, the BCCI and IPL governing council continue to be really diligent with regards to hosting of the sixty-match tournament, starting September 19.
(Inputs from AFP)
