ACA suspends four players over corruption allegations in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy

The Assam Cricket Association (ACA) on Friday, December 12, suspended four players, Amit Sinha, Ishan Ahmed, Aman Tripathi, and Abhishek Thakuri, with immediate effect following allegations of involvement in corrupt practices related to cricket.

An FIR has been lodged with the Crime Branch in Guwahati, and the BCCI’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) has conducted an inquiry into the matter. The ACA has also initiated criminal proceedings. Among the suspended players, Thakuri has represented Assam in two Ranji Trophy matches during the ongoing season in November.

“The four players are accused of influencing and attempting to instigate some of the current Assam team players, who took part in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025 held in Lucknow from November 26 to December 8. Prima facie, there appears to be involvement of the aforementioned four players in serious misconduct, affecting the integrity of the sports,” ACA secretary Sanatan Das said in a press release as quoted by The Indian Express.

Puducherry U-19 coach assaulted by players after a team snub

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Puducherry U-19 coach assaulted by players after a team snub

The suspension of the four Assam players will remain in effect until the conclusion of the investigation and any further decision by the ACA. Earlier this week, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, who hails from Assam, responded to an investigation conducted by The Indian Express that exposed several malpractices within the Cricket Association of Pondicherry (CAP).

The report revealed how the CAP administration systematically denied adequate representation to Puducherry-born cricketers in domestic competitions. It exposed instances where outstation players were made to pose as locals using fake educational certificates and Aadhaar addresses. Since 2021, only five local players have represented Puducherry in the Ranji Trophy.

In a related incident, S. Venkataraman, the Under-19 head coach of CAP, was allegedly assaulted on Monday by three local cricketers after they were not selected for the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, a national T20 tournament. Venkataraman reportedly suffered a head injury and a fractured shoulder in the attack.

“The news items raise some serious allegations, and therefore the BCCI will look into the matter soon,” said Saikia in response to The Indian Express.