Bookies had toyed with the idea of approaching a senior Australian cricketer for spot-fixing before IPL-5 but later dropped the plan after Ajit Chandila said he is a "big player" and it would be "difficult" to approach him, Delhi Police said today.
"Rajasthan Royals player Ajit Chandila, bookies Jitender and Manan had planned to approach the Australian cricketer for spot-fixing in February this year," a senior Delhi Police officer said.
The information has been conveyed by Harmeet Singh, a team member of Rajasthan Royals in his statement. The statement was recorded before a magistrate under section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code yesterday, the official said.
19-year-old Harmeet Singh was approached by Chandila for spot-fixing. But no deal could be struck as he had said he was "too young" and doubtful whether he would be able do as the bookies wanted.
Harmeet said in his statement that "they (bookies) also talked about an Australian cricketer. But Chandila said that he is a big player and it would be difficult to approach him."
Delhi Police busted the spot-fixing in IPL-5 with the arrest of three Royals players - S. Sreesanth, Ankit Chavan and Chandila - and 11 bookies from Mumbai on May 16. 18 more people were arrested later.
Currently, 21 people, including Sreesanth and Chavan, are out on bail.
