India test cricketer Shantakumaran Sreesanth has denied spot-fixing after being arrested in a scandal in the cash-rich Indian Premier League, while he and two teammates from his Rajasthan-based team remain in police custody.
“I’m innocent and have done no wrong,” Sreesanth said in a statement released through his lawyer. “I’ve never indulged in any spot-fixing.”
Sreesanth said he was confident he would be proved innocent even though police claim to have enough evidence against the players.
“As a cricketer, I’ve learnt to take knocks along with accolades, in my stride,” he said. “I recognise that I’m going through a tough period in my life. I have utmost faith in our judicial process and I’m confident that with time I’ll be proved innocent, and my honour and dignity will be vindicated and restored.”
Sreesanth was arrested last week along with fellow bowlers Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan and provisionally suspended by the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
They are accused of conceding above a certain number of runs per over in exchange for up to US$110,000 each from gamblers.