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 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 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.

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.