‘PUTTING AN END TO CORRUPTION IS PLAYERS’ RESPONSIBILITY’
Former India opener Virender Sehwag was not entirely astonished that there was another incident of corruption coming to light in the Indian Premier League on Thursday.
The BCCI’s anti-corruption unit picked up alleged bookies from Kanpur where IPL teams Gujarat Lions and Delhi Daredevils after suspicious activities.
Sehwag believes stopping corrupt practices is entirely the players’ responsibility.
“You can’t stop all these things, it is player’s responsibility whom he wants to meet. It’s my wish whom I want to meet, but if my conscience is clear then I can help the game keep clean too,” Sehwag said.
“You can keep anormous security, but they can’t stop anything if the player wants to do something (unlawful). It’s player’s own responsibility to ensure that no one questions their integrity. If tomorrow someone tells something about me .... When I used to play I would say I would retire that moment, now (when I am not playing) I would say remove all my records.
“If players take such type of responsibility then these guys (bookies) won’t meet you.
“I don’t remember meeting anyone unknown in the hotels because it’s my choice, if one of my friends comes to meet me, then I ensure only he comes and no other friend of his comes along.
“It is all about players awareness, this game is such that will only give you a lot but if your image is tarnished then you also lose your respect,” said Sehwag.