BCCI bans this franchise owner for lifetime in middle of IPL 2025 for match-fixing scandal

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has taken a decisive step in its ongoing efforts to combat corruption within the sport. In a recent ruling, the BCCI has imposed a lifetime ban on Gurmeet Singh Bhamrah, who served as the co-owner of a franchise participating in the Mumbai T20 League. With this BCCI upheld their zero-tolerance policy towards any form of corrupt practices that could undermine the integrity of cricket.

BCCI imposes lifetime ban on one of Mumbai T20 League's franchises' owner Gurmeet Singh Bhamrah

The lifetime ban was issued by the BCCI Ombudsman, Justice Arun Mishra, following an investigation into an incident that occurred during the 2019 edition of the Mumbai T20 League. The inquiry revealed that Gurmeet Singh Bhamrah had made corrupt approaches to two city-based cricketers, Dhawal Kulkarni and Bhavin Thakkar. This attempt to compromise the fairness of the game has resulted in the severe penalty, effectively barring Bhamrah from any involvement in cricket activities governed by the BCCI for the rest of his life.

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Dhawal Kulkarni, one of the players approached corruptly, is a seasoned medium-pace bowler who has also had the opportunity to represent India on the international stage. His experience includes playing in 12 ODIs matches and a couple of T20I fixtures.

Gurmeet Singh Bhamrah's involvement in cricket extended beyond the Mumbai T20 League, as he was also associated with the now-defunct GT20 Canada tournament. Regarding the Mumbai T20 League, which is set to be revived this year after being suspended following the 2019 edition due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Bhamrah is no longer affiliated with it. During his time with the league, he held a co-ownership stake in the SoBo Supersonics franchise.

While the official order copy regarding Bhamrah's ban does not explicitly state the duration of the penalty, it is understood that, according to the BCCI's Anti-Corruption Code, the potential range of punishment for such offenses spans from a minimum of five years to a maximum of a lifetime ban. The severity of Bhamrah's actions has evidently warranted the most stringent penalty available under the code.

"Upon completion of investigation, ACU submitted its report and wherein it recommended that respondent be charged with article 2.1.3, 2.1.4, 2.4.1 read with article 2.5.1 and article 2.5.2 of BCCI Anti Corruption Code for participants.

"ACU further recommended that appropriate orders may be passed against the respondent under the provisions of Article 4 and Article 5 of the Code."

According to the stipulations outlined in the BCCI's Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) Code, any violation falling under articles 2.1.1, 2.1.2, 2.1.3, or 2.1.4 is subject to a range of penalties. The code explicitly mandates that individuals found guilty of offenses classified under these articles will face a ban from participating in cricket activities ranging from a minimum period of five years to a maximum penalty of a lifetime exclusion.