Taking strong action against match-fixing, BCCI has banned Mumbai T20 League franchise owner Gurmeet Singh Bhamrah after he tried to contact several former Indian cricketers to fix matches.
Bhamrah was banned by BCCI Ombudsman Justice (Retd) Arun Mishra, who found him guilty of approaching former Indian cricketer Dhawal Kulkarni and a cricketer from Mumbai named Bhavin Thakkar during the tournament’s 2019 edition.
Gurmeet Singh Bhamrah was also associated with the now-discarded GT20 Canada and is no longer a part of the Mumbai T20 League. The Mumbai league was restarted after its first season in 2019, and it was banned during the COVID times. Bhamrah was co-owner of SoBo Supersonics.
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Life-Time Ban To Be Announced To Gurmeet Singh Bhamrah
The exact length of his ban has not been specified. However, it is expected to be somewhere between five years and a life ban, according to BCCI’s Anti-Corruption Code.
“Upon completion of investigation, ACU submitted its report and wherein it recommended that respondent be charged with article 2.1.3, 2.1.4, 2.4.1 read with article 2.5.1 and article 2.5.2 of BCCI Anti Corruption Code (hereinafter the 'Code') for participants. ACU further recommended that appropriate orders may be passed against the respondent under the provisions of Article 4 and Article 5 of the Code" the rules states in the copy.
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The order copy also specifies the name of Sonu Vasan, who approached Bhavin Thakkar to fix matches. The report further said that Vasan was sent by Bhamrah to fix matches. The league owner was popularly referred to as "Paaji" by the players. The Anti-Corruption Unit further specified that they recorded the statement of former Indian cricketer Dhawal Kulkarni.
“Transcript of the conversation shows that Sonu Vasan offered money and other benefits to Bhavin Thakkar at the behest of the respondent. Upon meriting the entire offer that he made on behalf of the respondent, Sonu Vasan told Bhavin Thakkar whatever call Thakkar wishes to take in the matter, Vasan would relay it back to the respondent. “Even prior to Thakkar's denial to be a part of wrongdoing, Vasan also mentioned that he was asked by 'Paaji' that incase Thakkar's reply was in the affirmative to the offer of under-performing/wrongdoing, 'Paaji' has asked that he i.e. the respondent could in fact be joined in on the same telephone call" the BCCI order copy stated.
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