BCCI Hands Lifetime Ban to Former Mumbai T20 Team Owner Gurmeet Singh Bhamrah in Corruption Case
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has imposed a lifetime ban on Gurmeet Singh Bhamrah, former co-owner of a Mumbai T20 League franchise, after finding him guilty of violating the board’s Anti-Corruption Code.
The decision was announced by BCCI Ombudsman and former Supreme Court judge Justice Arun Mishra following an investigation into an attempted match-fixing case during the 2019 Mumbai T20 League season.
According to reports, Bhamrah tried to influence the outcome of a semi-final match by approaching Mumbai cricketers Dhawal Kulkarni and Bhavin Thakkar. Investigators found that offers of money and other benefits were allegedly made in exchange for poor performance on the field.
The Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) stated that an intermediary named Sonu Vasan contacted Bhavin Thakkar on Bhamrah’s behalf. During the conversation, Thakkar was reportedly told that if he was interested, Bhamrah himself could join the call to discuss the matter further.
Thakkar refused the proposal and the matter was later reported to the authorities. Under BCCI rules, even attempting to bribe or influence a player is considered a serious offence.
After reviewing the evidence, the Ombudsman decided to impose the maximum punishment — a lifetime ban from all cricket activities governed by the BCCI.
Dhawal Kulkarni, who represented India in 12 One-Day Internationals and several T20 Internationals, also gave a statement during the investigation. He retired from professional cricket in March 2024 after helping Mumbai win the Ranji Trophy.
Bhamrah was also linked to cricket ventures outside India. He was involved in the Global T20 Canada (GT20 Canada) league, launched in 2018 as the first ICC-approved T20 tournament in North America. The league aimed to expand cricket’s reach in Canada and support emerging players.
He had also been associated with the SoBo Supersonics franchise in the Mumbai T20 League, which is set to return this year after being suspended since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The BCCI’s action sends a clear message that corruption in cricket will not be tolerated, regardless of a person’s position or influence. The board continues to emphasize fairness, honesty, and protecting the integrity of the game.
News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
