Kirti Azad begins hunger fast against IPL

NEW DELHI: Former India cricketer Kirti Azad today began a fast, demanding that the Indian Premier League, which has been a hit by a series a controversies, be scrapped.

Azad, who is also a BJP leader, began the hunger strike outside the Feroz Shah Kotla ground.

"All those who are watching, I have a question. Shouldn't there be transparency? There is too much of politics in sports. I only hope that there is some sportsmanship in politics," Azad said while addressing the gathering.

"Cricket is a religion in our country but it hurts when I get to know that youngsters want to play in IPL and not for the country," he added.

Another former cricketer Vivek Razdan was also present at the venue.

Five domestic uncapped Indian players were suspended by the BCCI when a sting operation by a private TV channel implicated them in spot-fixing.

Within says of that, Kolkata Knight Riders co-owner Shah Rukh Khan was involved in a brawl with the Maharashtra Cricket Association officials at the Wankhede stadium and was banned by the MCA from the entering the facility for five years.

After that, Royal Challengers Bangalore player Luke Pomersbach was arrested on charges of molesting an American woman. He was given bail by a Delhi court yesterday but cannot leave the country until the investigation is complete.