A Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) official responded to match-fixing claims against IPL team Rajasthan Royals during their group-stage encounter against Lucknow Super Giants on April 19.
Jaydeep Bihani, the convenor of the Rajasthan Cricket Association's (RCA) ad hoc committee, accused RR of match-fixing after they lost by two runs at home to LSG, failing to score nine in the final over.
The BJP MLA also accused the franchise of not letting the RCA get involved in the management of the ongoing IPL 2025 season.
“The ad hoc committee has been appointed by the state government in Rajasthan. It has been extended for a fifth time. We make sure all competitions take place without any issues. But then, just as IPL came, the Zila Parishad (district council) took control of it. For IPL, the BCCI had first sent a letter to RCA only, not the Zila Parishad. The excuse given by them and RR is that we don’t have an MOU from the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. If the MOU is not there, so what? Aren’t you paying Zila Parishad for every match?” he stated to News18.
According to The Times of India, a BCCI official denied the allegations and said that the RCA had been dissolved. He also stated that BCCI has its anti-corruption body keeping a close watch on the proceedings of IPL 2025 at all times.
"The RCA is currently dissolved. An ad hoc committee has been formed, and with the elections approaching, there is a lot of drama. Everyone wants attention. The BCCI has an anti-corruption unit working 24x7 to keep bad elements away from the game. There is no truth to these allegations," the BCCI official told the Times of India.
The official responded after the Rajasthan Royals sent a strongly worded letter to the BCCI about the RCA ad hoc committee's fixing allegations.
"The statements made by the convener are without any evidence and serve only to stir unnecessary controversy. They undermine not just the Royals but also Royal Multi Sport Private Limited (RMPL), the Rajasthan Sports Council, the BCCI, and the game of cricket itself,” wrote RR in their letter.
The TOI report also mentioned that the dispute between RR and RCA might have been brought on by the fewer free tickets offered this season. Prior to the association's dissolution this year, RR gave RCA 1800 free tickets to their home games in Jaipur; however, the team only gave out 1000–1200 tickets this season.
"At the start of the season, the BCCI gave us a clear guideline that since the RCA is dissolved, we would be dealing with the Rajasthan State Sports Council (RSSC) for all arrangements. The disgruntled member of the RCA ad hoc committee and his associates are demanding an exorbitant number of tickets, and we are not entertaining them. This is the sole reason behind all this drama," an RR insider told the Times of India.
Bihani's assertions that RCA should not be allowed to interfere in matters concerning the franchise and the current IPL season were also refuted by RR.
“As per the contractual requirements and BCCI directions, we are to work with the state association and the state government. RMPL has effectively and successfully done this for the last 18 years. The BCCI has confirmed and approved that the RSSC has the hosting rights for IPL matches in Jaipur. The franchisee is working hand-in-hand with the BCCI and RSSC under the guidance and support of the state government to ensure a successful IPL season,” RR said in the letter.
