No decision yet on Shami's IPL participation

Troubled pacer Mohammed Shami's participation in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) will depend on the findings of BCCI's Anti Corruption Unit (ACU) chief Neeraj Kumar, acting president CK Khanna said today.

Indian pacer Mohammed Shami’s IPL fate still hangs in balance after the IPL Governing Council failed to come to a decision as the findings of BCCI's Anti Corruption Unit (ACU) chief Neeraj Kumar are still awaited.

BCCI acting president CK Khanna said a decision on Shami turning up for Delh Daredevils for the eleventh edition of IPL will be taken once Kumar is done with his investigations.

The Committee of Administrators (CoA) chief Vinod Rai has instructed Kumar to investigate the corruption allegations by cricketer's wife Hasin Jahan that Shami took money from a UK-based businessman through a Pakistani woman.

"Since ACU chief Neeraj Kumar is investigating and has been given a seven-day time frame, any decision will be taken after he submits his report. The final decision will be taken by the CoA," acting president Khanna told PTI on the sidelines of the IPL Governing Council meeting.

Shami was picked by Delhi Daredevils for Rs three crore.

The BCCI has already withheld Shami's central contract in the wake of Jahan's allegations of domestic violence and infidelity against the pacer.

Among other decisions at the Governing Council meeting, Rs 18 crore were earmarked for organising the IPL opening ceremony.

"The finance team of BCCI has decided that Rs 18 crore will be spent on the opening ceremony even though the sanctioned budget was Rs 30 crore," Khanna said.

The IPL Play-off matches have been awarded to Pune while Rajkot and the newly-built stadium in Lucknow have been kept on stand by in case any centre faces any difficulty.

Kings XI Punjab has already asked for a shift of their matches during a particular phase when the Chandigarh airport will be closed for repair work.

During the opening ceremony on April 7 all the eight IPL captains will be present unlike in the past. Usually, captains playing on the following day of the ceremony miss the ceremony.

The BCCI has also decided to enter into an agreement with the Tata Trust for a social cause of earlier screening of cancer drive.