A major scandal has emerged in Indian cricket, coinciding with the Asia Cup final against Pakistan on September 28th. This scandal involves allegations of widespread corruption, with prominent figures like Rohit Sharma and Virender Sehwag’s coaches making serious accusations. They allege that players are being forced to pay bribes to secure their positions in the team. The information has been brought to light via a hidden camera investigation.
The core of the controversy revolves around the practice of demanding payments for a place in domestic cricket. Reports suggest several players have been affected by this situation. Anurag Kumar, Rohit Saini, and Vicky were reportedly made to pay substantial amounts to participate in the Ranji Trophy. Anurag was allegedly charged 20 lakhs, Rohit 15 lakhs, and Vicky 18 lakhs. The affected players filed written complaints with various police stations in Delhi last December.
Following the court’s involvement, the accused agreed to reimburse Vicky, and they have already returned 13 lakh rupees over the last nine months. However, neither Rohit nor Anurag has been given their money back. Anurag Kumar, Rohit Saini, and Vicky described their experiences. They mentioned being approached during a cricket tournament in Mau, Uttar Pradesh, where a person named Sangharsh Anand promised them a spot in the Bihar Ranji team. Anand then produced false documents for the players, and they were included in some matches organized by the Bihar Cricket Association.
The players believed Anand was assisting them based on their performances. Anand then assured them of a place in the Bihar Ranji team, receiving 20 lakh rupees from Anurag, 15 lakh rupees from Rohit, and 18 lakh rupees from Vicky. Vicky, a fast bowler, detailed in his police complaint how Sangharsh Anand and Saras Anand brought him to Bihar to play the Heeman Trophy, and he was given a chance to play in the matches.
Afterward, Sangharsh and Saras facilitated a conversation between Vicky and a member of the Bihar selection board. Consequently, Vicky paid 18 lakh rupees. However, they did not follow through, and they stopped responding to his calls. When the players put pressure on them, they were threatened with their lives. There are reports of several individuals who are constantly seeking to exploit players for financial gain. One name that has emerged is Nabam Guniya from Arunachal Pradesh, a former selector for Arunachal Pradesh cricket and currently a secretary of a district within the Arunachal Pradesh Cricket Association.
Investigations revealed that Nabam Guniya’s relatives occupy significant positions in the association. According to reports, Nabam Guniya takes 25 lakh rupees from players to let them play two Ranji matches. This corruption is not restricted to just the players and their agents, but even well-known cricket coaches have confirmed that money and influence are critical to being selected in a team.
AN Sharma, the former coach of Virender Sehwag, reported that in the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA), money openly changes hands for selection. To ensure your son’s place in the under-19 team, you would need approximately 15-16 lakh rupees. Furthermore, bribes are necessary to be included in the playing eleven. Madan Sharma, the coach of Shikhar Dhawan, mentioned that talent is not the only factor in the DDCA’s selection process.
He provided an example of a player who was the best performer in Delhi last season, but he was not included in the under-16 team. Randhir Singh, the coach of Yuzvendra Chahal and Pawan Negi, recounted his experience with Pawan Negi. He referred to a player who was selected for the World Cup team but was not included in the state team. Pawan Negi was part of the World Cup and Asia Cup teams but did not get selected for the state’s Ranji team during the same season. Randhir Singh and Madan Sharma assert that cricket at the present time is influenced by recommendations and corruption.
Shravan Kumar, who coached Ishant Sharma, shared that only those with financial resources can succeed in cricket. He clarified that in the past, the competition in Delhi was tough, and only the best players got selected. However, this is not the case currently. Selections for the under-16, 17, and 19 teams now require payments of 15-25 lakh rupees.
Rohit Sharma’s coach, Dinesh Lad, revealed that even Rohit Sharma himself fell victim to this corruption. He said the Kalpesh Koli tournament is organized in Mumbai for under-16 selections. Although Rohit Sharma was selected for the Borivali team, the coach intentionally kept Rohit out of the matches to ensure his preferred player got to play. This shattered Rohit’s dream of playing in the under-16 team.
However, Rohit was fortunate as the BCCI later moved this tournament from the under-16 to the under-17 category, providing Rohit Sharma with another opportunity. He performed well and was recognized as the best player. Dinesh Lad believes that money plays a major role in the selection process in Mumbai, but no one dares to speak out because any form of protest could ruin their career.