Chennai Super Kings (CSK) said Saturday its players and support staff have no knowledge of betting and spot fixing and were distressed by the allegations and news reports concerning the franchise and the Indian Premier League (IPL).
A day after its Chief Executive Officer Gurunath Meiyappan was arrested in connection with the raging spot fixing scam in Indian cricket, CSK issued a handwritten unsigned statement which was read out to the media by coach Stephen Fleming at the Eden Gardens here.
The statement referred to the franchise's record of having made it to the play-offs in all six seasons of the IPL and said the team has played every match to the "best of our ability".
"The players and support staff are distressed by the allegations and news reports concerning the CSK franchise and the IPL. We have played every match to the best of our ability and are very proud of our record of having appeared in the play-off in all six seasons of the IPL. The players and support staff have no direct knowledge of either the betting or the separate spot fixing allegations," the statement said.
"As difficult as it is, all our focus is now on preparing for the IPL final tomorrow," it added.
The Chennai Super Kings are slated to take on Mumbai Indians in the IPL final here Sunday.