Bookies tried to lure two players: Sunil Gavaskar

KOLKATA: The interim president of BCCI-IPL Sunil Gavaskar on Thursday confirmed that two cricketers were approached by the bookies during the ongoing IPL and the matter has been reported to the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit officials (ACSU).
"There have been a couple (of approaches) and it's been reported to ACSU. They are looking into it," Gavaskar said during a media interaction.
Asked whether Brendon McCullum being approached by bookies is something to be concerned about, Gavaskar said: "I can assure you that the leak did not come from the IPL. I don't know where it came from. It's an issue to be concerned about. I've to say that having an Integrity Officer (IO) attached with every team this time has helped. It has made it a lot easier for players to communicate." Gavaskar said.
"At times players didn't know what to do. Okay, there was a number to contact. But a lot of people (players) were thinking if you contact, does your number show up or not. Players were not sure about the anonymity and confidentiality aspects. Now with an IO attached to every team, it has become a lot of easier. If there has been an approach, people go and tell the officer so that he takes it forward."
The original 'Little Master', who described his stint at the helm of IPL as a "Twenty20 innings", wants the BCCI to initiate a process whereby young and inexperienced cricketers playing in the IPL can get proper guidance.
"On the second day after I took over, I called up Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Anil Kumble --- the four legends of the game. They are contemporary cricketers and know the pressures and tensions of the modern day game. We had a tremendous interaction. One of the things that came through was that youngsters need to be guided on how to handle their careers," Gavaskar said.
"The fame that comes with the IPL is tough to handle. It's a hugely covered event, much bigger than Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy or Vijay Hazare Trophy," Gavaskar said. "Not only youngsters, even established players can get carried away by the glitz, glamour and money and Indian cricket could end up losing them," he added.
"In order to be able to take care of that situation, we need to start a process. This is just thinking of IPL GC which will go to the working committee of BCCI from there on it will take wings," he said.
"It will have to be an ongoing process which should ideally start after the IPL when a majority of our players, apart from those selected for Indian team, will be free. The off-season is the right time for this programme," he added. The ball is in BCCI's court.