No Action Against Franchise That Accused Ashwin’s Team – Here’s Why
Salem: A new twist has emerged in the recent ball tampering allegations made by the Madurai Panthers (MP) against the Dindigul Dragons (DD), led by Ravichandran Ashwin, in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL). Though strict action was being considered against the Madurai franchise, the organizers have now decided not to proceed with any penalty.
What Were the Allegations?
The controversy began after the June 14 match in Salem. Madurai Panthers alleged that players from Ashwin’s team used a towel laced with a chemical substance to rub the ball. They claimed that this tampering negatively affected the condition of the ball during their innings, which in turn impacted their batsmen’s performance.
Ashwin’s Team Got a Clean Chit
Following an investigation, TNPL CEO Prasanna Kannan released a statement saying:
There is no evidence of ball tampering. Both teams were provided identical towels by the organizers. The match umpires and referee monitored the ball closely throughout the match and reported no signs of tampering.
In summary, umpires and officials did not observe anything suspicious, and the Madurai team’s claim was deemed speculative and unsubstantiated.
ALSO READ : R. Ashwin Exonerated in TNPL Ball-Tampering Row; Accusers Face Potential Disciplinary Action
Why Madurai Faces No Action
Even though Madurai could have faced penalties for making accusations without evidence, the TNPL decided against it. According to a reputed cricket website, Madurai filed their complaint more than 24 hours after the match, which violates the TNPL’s code of conduct.
Additionally, TNPL officials clarified to the media that the Madurai franchise has since withdrawn the complaint, stating that it was not intended to tarnish Ashwin’s reputation or that of the Dindigul team. Considering the league’s reputation, the authorities chose to avoid harsh action against Madurai.
Match Summary
On June 14, under Ashwin’s captaincy, Dindigul Dragons defeated Madurai Panthers convincingly by 9 wickets with 45 balls to spare. Madurai posted 150/8 in 20 overs. Ashwin didn’t take any wickets but contributed significantly with the bat, scoring 49 off 29 balls (3 sixes, 6 fours). His partnership of 124 runs with Shivam Singh (83* off 41, 6 sixes, 8 fours) led Dindigul to a comfortable win, finishing at 151/1 in just 12.3 overs.