The 30-year-old played 37 first-class matches and scored 2160 runs at an average of 42.35
Hiken Shah
Mumbai: On a day when the Mumbai selectors met to discuss probables for the upcoming Ranji season, the once domestic powerhouse suffered a taint as yet another player from Mumbai was suspended for breaching the anti-corruption code.
The BCCI on Monday suspended Mumbai batsman Hiken Shah after being found guilty for a “corrupt approach.” “BCCI would wish to inform that Mumbai cricketer, Hiken, has been suspended with immediate effect. He was found guilty of breaching BCCI’s Anti-Corruption Code for participants,” the board said in a release.
The 30-year-old played 37 first-class matches and scored 2160 runs at an average of 42.35. “Hiken made a corrupt approach to one of his colleagues from first-class cricket, who is also a member of one of the IPL teams.
“The approached player immediately informed the incident to his franchise team. The franchise team followed the process of informing the incident to the Anti Corruption Unit of the BCCI,” the release stated. While the name of the player was not revealed, it is understood that Shah approached leg spinner Pravin Tambe who plays for Rajasthan Royals ahead of IPL-8.
Shah, who is in the UK playing for Whalley Cricket Club in the Ribblesdale Cricket League in Lancashire, defended himself. “I have no idea what is happening. I had just met Pravin Tambe for coaching and not any irregular activity,” he told a news channel.
Coach, MCA in shock
Often unassuming, Shah followed the copybook style when it came to his batting. Known for his ability to grind the attack and bat for long hours, the news of him being suspended shocked the Mumbai cricket fraternity here. Former Mumbai coach Sulakshan Kulkarni, who gave him a lifeline in 2011 after urging selectors to recall him was at a loss of words. “I am shocked and saddened. I have known both Ankeet Chavan and Hiken for over a decade now. When something like this happens you wonder if you can trust anyone anymore. Like Ankeet, Hiken was a quiet boy and never had any disciplined related issues. I don’t understand why players get involved in such acts and disrespect the game,” Kulkarni told this newspaper.
The Mumbai Cricket Association said it would counsel young players with a hope that they refrain from wrongdoings. “At the moment, Hiken Shah remains suspended from all cricketing activities,” MCA secretary Dr. Unmesh Khanvilkar said.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
Next Story
