Unlike the erstwhile News of the World sting operation conducted on a few Pakistani players during their Test tour of England in August 2010,the India TV equivalent did not target high-profile names of the Indian Premier League. Neither did the reporters from the Indian channel pose as bookies. With several lesser known first-class cricketers as their target,these player managers cum agents approached them to sign for franchises guaranteeing a fatter purse next season. While many turned down lusty offers,four found themselves entangled in the web. And prime-time on Monday night,India TV had a breaking story on Deccan Chargers TP Sudhindra,Pune Warriors Mohnish Mishra,Kings XI Punjabs Shalabh Srivastava and Amit Yadav. Call it sheer coincidence or a well- researched lead,three of the aforementioned quartet were all players who were part of the defunct Indian Cricket League. All but Yadav. In fact Sudhindra,Mishra and Srivastava plied their respective trades for the same side the Delhi Giants. While they received amnesty from the BCCI,the cloud of fixing supposedly prevalent in the ICL has now shifted,looming uglily over the board recognised league. Franchisees pay black money to us players, claimed Punes Mishra,unaware that his boasts were being recorded. After receiving amnesty in 2010,Mishra was signed by the Deccan Chargers the same year,before Pune Warriors brought him on board in 2011,apparently for an exorbitant sum of Rs 1.5 crore. Having played just 31 first-class matches for Madhya Pradesh,the 28-year old should have had a salary cap of Rs 30 lakh. Under-hand dealings Rs 1.2 crore was paid to me by Pune in black, Mishra explained. So do the IPL organisers know about this transaction? Yes,everybody knows. If the organisers didnt know,then this wouldnt be happening, he added. Mishra also claimed that he was already in talks with the Mumbai Indians for a Rs 2 crore paycheck next season. Like Mishra,KXIPs Yadav is seen telling the undercover reporters that if they can get his Rs 20 lakh (twice his salary cap) from any franchise,then he would consider dealing with them. An all-rounder who bats right-handed and bowls off-spin for Goa,the 22-year-old has played 14 first-class matches,scoring three half centuries and taking 41 wickets at 23.75. He is yet to make his IPL debut. Yadavs KXIP team mate Shalabh Srivastava is perhaps the man who has achieved the most amongst the shamed lot. The left-arm seamer from UP (41 first-class games so far) was Indias highest wicket-taker during their victorious under-19 World Cup campaign in Sri Lanka in 2000 a team that included the likes of Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif. After severing ties with ICL,Srivastava was signed up by KXIP in 2010 and featured regularly in the 2010 and 2011 seasons. But having gone off the boil as far as appearances are concerned,Srivastava wanted a bit more on the monetary front. I got Rs 50 lakh from KXIP,out of which Rs 20 lakh was black, Srivastava claimed. Ill be ready to change if I get more. Manish Pandey got a Rs 90 lakh Mercedes instead of black money. The channel also claimed that Srivastava had agreed to spot fix if he was paid Rs 10 lakh for a no ball. Without playing a single game this season,the deal perhaps never materialised,unlike in the case of Sudhindra India TVs catch of the season. After leaving ICL,Sudhindra enjoyed almost instant success on his return to the domestic fold,helping Madhya Pradesh climb to Ranji Trophys Elite Division in the 2010-11 season,before ending the 2011-12 Ranji season as its highest wicket-taker. Then,before this IPL in April,Sudhindra was contacted by the India TV team for the first time. He agreed to bowl a no ball in a local Indore league match,and came through with it,as the television footage showed on loop on Monday. It may not have been an Amir or an Asif,but if proven guilty,the penalty meted out to Sudhindra might not be very different. Domestic file of those who were stung TP Sudhindra (Deccan Chargers) After leaving the ICL,where he represented Delhi Giants,Sudhindra enjoyed almost instant success on his return to the domestic fold. The medium-pacer helped Madhya Pradesh gain promotion to Ranji Trophys Elite Division in the 2010-11 season before surprising everyone with his first season in the big league,ending the 2011-12 season as its highest wicket-taker and earning himself a contract with the Deccan Chargers. Mohnish Mishra (Pune Warriors) Madhya Pradesh middle-order batsman Mishra,28,too played for the Delhi Giants in the rebel Indian Cricket League before gaining amnesty from the BCCI. Signed by Deccan Chargers in 2010,Mishra moved to the newly-formed Pune Warriors in 2011. Shalabh Srivastava (Kings XI Punjab) Uttar Pradesh left-arm seamer Srivastava was Indias highest wicket-taker at the victorious under-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka in 2000 a team that included the likes of Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif. After severing ties with ICL team Delhi Giants,Srivastava was signed up by Kings XI Punjab in 2010,and featured regularly in the 2010 and 2011 seasons. Amit Yadav (Kings XI Punjab) An all-rounder who bats right-handed and bowls off-spin for Goa,the 22-year-old Yadav has played 14 first-class matches,scoring three half centuries and taking 41 wickets at 23.75. Yadav is on Punjabs roster,but hasnt made his IPL debut yet.
