IPL cricketer targeted in blackmail racket linked to board official’s aide

Has cricket reached a new low? A disturbing development has come to light, as CricBlogger has learnt that an upcoming IPL cricketer has allegedly become the victim of a sordid blackmail scheme involving the secretary of a prominent board official. Sources said the player was asked to pay a certain amount as commission in exchange for facilitating an IPL contract. When the player reportedly refused to pay, the secretary allegedly began blackmailing the cricketer.

With little response from the player, the secretary is said to have joined hands with a reporter to expose the cricketer’s personal life on social media, sources told CricBlogger.

Therefore, all the hue and cry over IPL cricketers on social media appears to have stemmed from this scandal — apart from another incident involving an IPL cricketer’s girlfriend allegedly sharing sensitive information with outsiders.

When CricBlogger tried to reach out to board officials, none of them were available for comment.

This is not the first time a cricketer has allegedly had to pay for selection in the IPL, but the involvement of the secretary of a board representative has come to light for the first time. Even in domestic cricket, some players are said to forgo their entire match fees to officials in order to secure a chance to represent their state side.

With such alleged malpractice in place, the board has taken the matter seriously. “The involvement of unwanted people around cricketers will have to stop somewhere,” a source said, adding that the blackmail issue has been discussed at length within IPL team circles and among franchise management.

It has also come to light that a nexus may be operating at multiple levels, prompting the board to take preventive steps. Guidelines in the form of dos and don’ts have reportedly been shared, while franchises and players have also been asked to follow a stricter protocol to curb such blackmail attempts.

There is also a section within Board of Control for Cricket in India that believes players should immediately approach the board if they receive such offers, especially when outsiders contact them seeking sensitive information.