Friday 43 Sports Friday, April 6, 2018 Cash-rich IPL gambles on return to ‘spirit of ’

The desire to avoid further controversy is clear

NEW DELHI: The billionaire Indian Premier charged with masterminding the Cape Town League starts tomorrow aiming to prove that it ball-tampering plot-has also been dropped is about the “spirit of cricket” rather than suc- from his IPL team, the Sunrisers . cess at all costs, after the banning of and over a Test cheating ‘Gentleman’s game’ storm. The lucrative but scandal-tainted Rising Indian stars have been made well tournament has spent the last few aware of the need to redeem cricket’s image in years battling its own series of controversies. its stronghold country. “There is always a lot to So when news learn from everything, broke that Smith and but I always believe Warner-who had both that cricket is a gentle- been due to man’s game,” Delhi IPL teams-had been Cricket is a Daredevils - barred by Cricket Aus- keeper-batsman tralia for 12 months gentleman’s game Rishabh Pant said this over last month’s ball- week when asked tampering row in South about the Australia Africa, ’s cricket scandal. “The sport board quickly followed should be played in the suit. With Smith’s side, the , re- same spirit.” turning from a two-year corruption ban, they Despite the troubles, the IPL’s appeal is on could not afford to have kept their disgraced the rise. Rupert Murdoch’s Star India signed a skipper. five-year $2.55 billion broadcast deal for IPL HYDERABAD: cricket team head coach (C), team mentor VVS Lax- Along with the Super Kings, the rights last year that gave a new boost to the man and bowling coach (R) take part in a promotional event in Hyderabad Royals are one of two franchises back in the In- coffers of the world’s wealthiest cricket board. on April 5, 2018, before the start of the 2018 cricket tournament. —AFP dian league this season after a two-year hiatus And the pyrotechnics, cheerleaders and huge for separate illegal betting scandals. Meanwhile pay cheques have still attracted top foreign IPL founder Lalit Modi remains in self-imposed stars to play in India’s sweltering heat. “The season was another show of India’s riches. Eng- formers. He insists that new stars will rise. “The exile in Britain, refusing to return to India to IPL towers over everything in cricket, and land all-rounder will again be the IPL is a fantastic tournament, everybody for- face corruption charges. For the Board of Con- among cricketers, although that is not all that player to watch after being bought by the Roy- gets. You only focus on who is there. The charm trol for (BCCI), which earns matters,” noted Australian writer Gideon als for $1.96 million in the January sale. New will remain. Life goes on, cricket carries on. One huge sums from the lucrative Twenty20 tour- Haigh. “India also has a sharp appetite for na- Zealand’s will be in the spot- man’s loss is another man’s opportunity,” said nament, the desire to avoid further controversy tional success and prestige, which IPL also light after being appointed Hyderabad’s cap- Chopra. The Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led Super is clear. gratifies, but on its own cannot meet. “This will tain. Warner led the side to the IPL title in 2016. Kings will open the tournament, with its $8 mil- “The BCCI hopes that the cricketers partic- continue to underpin support for and engage- Williamson is now the only foreign captain lion in prize money, against holders the Mumbai ipating in the IPL hold the highest regard for ment with ’s team,” he said. in the eight-team league once dominated by Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday the spirit of cricket and code of conduct for imports. Test player-turned-commentator night. The eight team tournament runs through players and match officials,” it said at the height ‘One man’s loss’ Aakash Chopra believes the tournament will to May 27 when the battle for the four million of the Australia cheating storm. Warner- The player auction held ahead of the new not lose its sheen despite losing two top per- dollar first prize will be held in Mumbai. — AFP

Cricket Australia whether they accepted their else was aware of it and whether he had been Warner joins punishment or would opt for a hearing, as is made a scapegoat. He had not commented fur- their right. ther since taking to social media a day later to “I have today let know that confirm he was seeking advice on whether to teammates in I fully accept the sanctions imposed on me,” challenge the ban. Warner said on Twitter. “I am truly sorry for my Warner, 31, is seen as having the most at accepting ban actions and will now do everything I can to be stake, admitting he was “resigned to the fact” a better person, teammate and role model.” CA he may never play for Australia again after chief executive James Sutherland said late being identified as the mastermind of the plan : Former Australia cricket vice-captain Thursday the bans were “significant penalties” to use sandpaper to scratch the surface of the David Warner yesterday said he will not be that were “not imposed lightly”. “The events of ball. Smith was charged with knowledge of the challenging his 12-month ban for ball-tampering Cape Town have severely affected the game,” potential ball-altering plot, but Warner was and would strive to be a better teammate and he added. “We know the players will return to charged with developing it and instructing Ban- role model. His decision, just hours before a playing the game they love, and in doing so, we croft to carry it out. Since the scandal erupted, SYDNEY: Australian cricketer David Warner deadline, followed a contrite Steve Smith and hope they rebuild their careers and regain the Warner and Smith have both lost a lucrative In- speaks at a press conference at the Sydney also accepting their sanc- trust of fans.” dian Premier League contract and been Cricket Ground (SCG). —AFP tions on Wednesday. Like Smith and Bancroft, Warner had held a dumped by sponsors. Warner and Smith were last week sus- tearful press conference on his return to Aus- The Australian Cricketers’ Association on taken into account, urging a relaxation to allow pended from international and domestic cricket tralia last week to accept responsibility for his Tuesday called for the bans to be reduced, ar- the men to return to domestic action sooner. for a year, while opening batsman Bancroft was part in the scandal that also saw coach Darren guing the punishment was disproportionate to With the World Cup and an Ashes series in exiled for nine months over the incident during Lehmann quit. But he pointedly evaded ques- previous ball-tampering cases. ACA president 2019, supporters of the players believe they the third Test in that shocked the tions about whether the ball-tampering plot also said the contrition expressed by need to be playing state cricket to be in the type sport. The trio had until late Thursday to tell was his idea, whether it was the first time, who players had been “extraordinary” and should be of form that could warrant selection. — AFP