Mizoram, Goa seek BCCI approval for replacements for Gautam, Kazi

CM Gautam and Abrar Kazi were arrested on Thursday for their alleged involvement in the Karnataka Premier League spot-fixing scandal.

C. M. Gautam was on Thursday arrested by the Central Crime Branch for his involvement in the Karnataka Premier League fixing scandal.

The Cricket Association of Mizoram (CAM) and the Goa Cricket Association (GCA) have written to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) seeking approval for replacements for Abrar Kazi and C. M. Gautam, who have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the Karnataka Premier League spot-fixing scandal, for the remainder of the season.

READ|  CM Gautam, Abrar Kazi arrested on KPL spot-fixing charges

“The association has terminated his (Kazi’s) contract already and a letter has been sent to the board seeking its permission for a replacement,” said a top CAM official.

The Mizoram association is already in talks with a few all-rounders to fill Kazi’s spot. A seasoned campaigner in domestic cricket, the spin-bowling all-rounder moved to Mizoram from Nagaland this season as a professional player and was also made the captain of the side. Last season, Kazi was the leading scorer for Nagaland, where he amassed 814 runs.

READ| KPL spot-fixing: Karnataka cricket shocked over Gautam, Kazi arrests

The Goa Cricket Association had earlier terminated Gautam's contract and had named Darshan Mishal as the new captain for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Twenty20 tournament.

“We have written to the board seeking approval for replacement. We are waiting to hear from them,” said GCA secretary Vipul Phadke.

The arrests of Kazi and Gautam landed Mizoram and Goa in a fix right ahead of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and the teams had no option but to tweak the combinations and take the field for their first two games.

Even if the BCCI approves the replacements, it could be a challenge for both the associations to get suitable replacements in the middle of the season.

Mizoram has lost both of its Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy games – against Mumbai and Bengal – so far, while Goa has defeated Baroda and Bihar.

Gautam and Kazi were arrested by the Central Crime Branch, Bangalore, on Thursday.

Some of the BCCI officials, confirmed that the Board has received the letters from GCA and CAM, but insisted that a final call on the matter will be taken by Board's secretary, Jay Shah.

"Since it's a special case, the decision has to come from the secretary and there should be clarity on the matter in the next few days," the official said.