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No sanctions yet on Ajit Chandila, Hiken Shah

The BCCI has deferred a decision on possible sanctions on offspinner Ajit Chandila and Mumbai batsman Hiken Shah

Arun Venugopal
24-Dec-2015
Ajit Chandila - "I have answered all their questions. Let's see what happens next"  •  BCCI

Ajit Chandila - "I have answered all their questions. Let's see what happens next"  •  BCCI

The BCCI has deferred a decision on possible sanctions on offspinner Ajit Chandila and Mumbai batsman Hiken Shah until January 5.
Chandila was found guilty of alleged spot-fixing charges, along with fellow Rajasthan Royals bowlers S Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan and Amit Singh, by a BCCI probe in September 2013. Hiken, on the other hand, was suspended by the board in July with immediate effect after he was found guilty of making an illegal approach to a player ahead of IPL 2015.
Chandila, along with Chavan and Sreesanth, were also charged by the Delhi Police under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, but were subsequently discharged by a trial court in July. In November, the Delhi High Court served notices to the trio after the Delhi Police challenged the trial court's ruling.
After the disciplinary committee meeting in Mumbai, Chandila said he was questioned by the members of the committee - BCCI president Shashank Manohar, Niranjan Shah and Jyotiraditya Scindia (on video conference) and the board's Anti-Corruption Unit head Ravi Sawani.
"The acquittal by the trial court was a big turning point for me," Chandila said. "The questions were the same as the ones Delhi Police asked me. This is a new committee and I had to give them answers. I gave them the same answers I gave the court.
"I have been waiting to be heard by the new committee. I have full faith in the new BCCI committee and God that justice will be done to me. I'm confident this committee will give me a fair trial. I have answered all their questions. Let's see what happens next."
While bans were imposed on Sreesanth, Chavan and Amit, Chandila's case remained pending as Sawani did not have the opportunity to question him before the submission of his report.
There was a further delay as after Sawani eventually questioned Chandila in October 2013, the latter sought additional time to respond to charges leveled against him. Chandila was eventually given time until March 12, 2014.
While the BCCI did not name the first-class cricketer who was approached, it is learnt that Hiken approached a Mumbai team-mate ahead of IPL 2015. The anti-corruption unit inquiry found that Hiken had made an "exploratory approach"
Hiken's lawyer Som Sinha told ESPNcricinfo their next course of action would depend on when Hiken is heard next. "We have to follow the procedure. Once the procedure is over we will see. They have given him some papers. I'll be meeting him tomorrow

Arun Venugopal is a correspondent at ESPNcricinfo