Allegations of match-fixing have hit the Indian Cricket League (ICL). Top sources in the ICL have confirmed that Chandigarh Lions players Chris Cairns and Dinesh Mongia, both former international cricketers, are being investigated for alleged “match-fixing.” Cairns and Mongia were not available for comment despite repeated attempts on Tuesday. They denied the allegations in their meeting with ICL officials on Sunday. The ICL had announced on Monday the suspension of Mongia and Cairns. A senior ICL official had told this newspaper that they had been suspended for “under-performance.” Mongia had scored 38 runs off 32 balls and given away 27 runs in three overs in Chandigarh Lions’ nine-wicket defeat to Hyderabad Heroes on Sunday. Captain Cairns scored 12 off 10 deliveries and did not bowl in the match. ICL officials reportedly confronted the Chandigarh Lions players after their match with Hyderabad Heroes in Gurgaon on Sunday. They told the team members that they had evidence to prove that the players under-performed deliberately. Initially, sources say, the team members denied the charge. However, when told that there was “concrete proof” some team members admitted to “under-performing” and assured that they would never repeat it. However, Mongia and Cairns denied all charges and challenged the authorities to prove the allegations that they termed baseless. However, the ICL decided to suspend the players pending investigation. “The ICL doesn’t want a blot on the League and would go by the international code of conduct while tackling such issues,” a source said. “It is very clear, we cannot tolerate players taking the ICL for a ride. They think they have got the contracts and the money and can do and get away with anything but we want to tell them they cannot do this to the game of cricket.”
