Belagavi Panthers suspended from KPL by outgoing administration of KSCA
The outgoing administration of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has suspended the Belagavi Panthers franchise from the Karnataka Premier League (KPL) following their owner’s arrest on betting charges. Thara was also co-owner of the Kerala Knights franchise in the Abu Dhabi T10 league.
The outgoing administration of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has suspended the Belagavi Panthers franchise as well as thier owner Ali Asfaq Thara. The decision was taken by the outgoing managing committee of the KSCA on Tuesday. Further action against the franchise will be taken by the new administration which will be elected on Thursday.
Thara has been arrested by the Bengaluru police on charges of alleged betting on this season’s Karnataka Premier League (KPL) games. Thara, who was also co-owner of the Kerala Knights franchise in the Abu Dhabi T10 league, has been dissociated from the league after he was booked for gambling under the Karnataka Police Act.
“As part of our due diligence, we took immediate action that he would no longer be part of the league," Shaji ul Mulk, founder of Abu Dhabi T10 told India Today.
Thara remains in custody, as the police have said that Thara was "indulging in betting during the matches" and the police are likely to file a charge sheet against him soon. According to Sudhakar Rao, the outgoing KSCA secretary, the decision of a suspension has been conveyed to the Panthers management orally. "We have to take action. At the moment we have suspended the franchise and the owner," Rao told ESPNcricinfo.
According to Rao, the KSCA felt it had to send a message that there was zero tolerance toward corruption in the KPL. "This is a precautionary measure we have taken so that others should not follow these steps."
Any "severe" action including the termination of the contract with the Panthers would only be taken by the new KSCA administration if and when the police conclusively establish Thara's involvement in corruption in the KPL. "If we get the details (on the police investigation) in writing then we can take severe action against those franchisees or players or whoever is involved," Rao said.
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