Fixing has always happened in cricket and will continue: Shah Rukh

Kolkata Knight Riders’ co-owner Shah Rukh Khan believes that though cricket will never be able to get rid of the evil of spot-fixing, the Indian Premier League's fan-following and brand value will not been affected by the controversies that dogged the sixth edition of the cash-rich T20 tournament this year.

"Fixing has been always happened and will continue to happen in cricket. Last year it was also reported that the biggest fixing happened in the English Premier League," he said in Mumbai, on Tuesday.

Despite three Rajasthan Royals players -- S Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan – being arrested in the spot-fixing scandal that hit the last edition of the IPL, Shah Rukh is of the view that sportspersons don’t indulge in such malpractices.

"I don’t think any sportsperson would do it," he said.

The 47-year-old Bollywood superstar, whose franchise won the fifth edition of the IPL in 2012, says fans will continue to support the T20 tournament because of the huge following cricket has in India.

"I don’t think brand IPL has been affected at all. IPL is a brand for exciting cricket. Fans don’t come to see my dance in the stands or watch the cheerleaders, or are bothered about fixing. They like to see entertaining cricket and that’s what they get to see," he said.

He claimed that the big plus point from the IPL is that it has produced many good, young players in recent years, not only from India but also abroad.

"Every year there is a new and young player from India, and other countries too, who shows his talent and becomes a hero in the IPL.

“On the other hand, we have a big player who fails to deliver completely. All these things are exciting. Till the time people enjoy this I don’t think the IPL will get over," he affirmed.