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Underperformers in IPL need to be taken to task: Sidhu
At a time when the Indian Premier League (IPL) is facing criticism of various reasons, member of Parliament and former Test cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu said that there was nothing bad with the league, the only requirement is that the wrong-doers should be taken to task.
At a time when the Indian Premier League (IPL) is facing criticism of various reasons, member of Parliament and former Test cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu said that there was nothing bad with the league, the only requirement is that the wrong-doers should be taken to task.
"In the last five years corruption cases of thousands of crores have come to the fore. That does not mean that Parliament should be closed," Sidhu said.
"Similarly, we need not stop the IPL. We need strong laws in place and players who intentionally under-perform must be booked for treason," he said.
"Institutions on the whole are never bad, but people are. We only need to weed out the wrong-doers," he added.
Coming in support of the IPL, Sidhu said, "This is a cricket format that has brought smiles to billions of Indian cricket fans at a time when fans were disappointed by Indian teams' dismal show in England and Australia."
When pointed out that senior BJP leader Shanta Kumar has demanded a CBI probe into the money involved in the IPL, Sidhu said, "Certainly there should be a probe, but there must also be law to punish those who under-perform at will."
"Betting is legal in many countries. Man is a gambler by instinct. But under-performing is a sin. An under-performer betrays the country and fans," he said.
