Hussey Defends IPL Teammates

Kings XI Punjab acting captain David Hussey has come out in defence of his team amid allegations of corruption in the Indian Premier League.

Two of the five players suspended by the Indian cricket board (BCCI) are contracted to the Punjab team – Amit Yadav and Shalabh Srivastava – though they have not played in this year’s IPL.

Hussey, deputising for the injured Adam Gilchrist, hopes the Punjab players will not be tarnished with the same brush as the suspended duo.

"Everyone in my team, everyone in Kings XI Punjab as a brand, plays with utmost integrity and if any print or TV media tries to write differently or say something differently about my team, then I will be very disappointed," Hussey said.

The cricket community on Betfair was stunned when it emerged that reporters from India TV had posed as sports agents and recorded the players saying that spot-fixing was prevalent in the competition.

T. P. Sudhindra, Mohnish Mishra and Abhinav Bali were the other cricketers suspended by the BCCI on Tuesday.

Sudhindra has played three times for the Deccan Chargers this year, while Mishra has played one game for Pune Warriors. Bali has not featured in the tournament.

India TV showed Sudhindra allegedly agreeing to bowl pre-arranged no-balls in a local amateur match, while Punjab’s Srivastava apparently stated he could do the same in the IPL. Srivastava denied the accusations.

Mishra told the undercover reporters he was paid a major part of his IPL salary by Pune Warriors in illegal money, though he later apologised, saying he made the comment "casually for personal gain".

The board’s investigations will be carried out by former police officer Ravi Sawani, who has previously worked for the International Cricket Council's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit.

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