A 'fixed' press conference?
Shobha Warrier in Madras
The press conference of the disciplinary committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India at the SPIC
House, to announce to the world the punishment dished out to the cricketers who
were found guilty of match-fixing, turned out to be a 'fixed' one!
BCCI president A C Muthiah was to address the press at six in the evening, but there was no
sight of him even at 6.30 pm. Slowly, the 'caged journalists' got details of the punishment meted out to the alleged match-fixers on their mobile phones. We were told that television channels flashed the news, press
agencies reported the news, and even All India Radio carried the news, all while
the AIR correspondent sat inside the room waiting for Muthiah to come and
address the press. In short, the whole world except those who waited for Muthiah knew what decision the board had arrived at!
Muthiah did address the press, but more than an hour after the stipulated
time, and more than half an hour after the news was leaked. When the irate
journos asked him whether the press conference was also fixed, he said, "no", he had not told anyone the decision! He said he didn't know how the outside world knew what exactly was written in the report.
Ram Prasad, another member of the disciplinary committee, said somebody could have tapped their
telephones!!
Muthiah and Ram Prasad had met at 4.45 pm on Tuesday in Madras and took some "unanimous decisions". BCCI vice-president Kamal Moraka, another member of the three-member disciplinary committee, did not attend the meeting. Muthiah said he talked to him over telephone but did not discuss the decisions he and Ram Prasad arrived at.
After the CBI submitted its report, titled 'Report on Cricket match-fixing and
related malpractices' in October this year, the BCCI commissioned K Madhavan
to make further enquiries into allegations of match-fixing. Madhavan gave opportunities to former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin, Ajay Sharma, Ajay Jadeja, Nayan Mongia, Manoj Prabhakar, Dr.Ali Irani and groundsman Ram
Adhar to air their views on the CBI report. He then submitted his report to the BCCI.
After that, the above mentioned were given notice to appear before the disciplinary committee of the board on November 28, in New Delhi. They submitted their explanations at the hearing.
Muthiah said the proceedings were recorded and signed by the members of
the disciplinary committee and the players and the physiotherapist.
"After having considered the matter in its entirety and also on the basis of
the submission made by them before the committee, the committee is of the
opinion that the players and the physiotherapist are guilty as found by
Madhavan. The committee is of the opinion that they have conducted
themselves in a manner which is prejudicial to the interests of the game of
cricket. While taking its decision, the committee has also kept in mind the
contributions by them to cricket," Muthiah said.
The decisions, as read out by Muthiah:
1. Mohammad Azharuddin is debarred from playing any cricket
matches conducted or authorized by ICC/BCCI or affiliated associations, and
also debarred from holding any position in ICC/BCCI or any of its affiliated
associations for life commencing from the 5th December, 2000. He will also
be not eligible for any benefit matches allotted/conducted by the BCCI or
its affiliated members, and the BCCI's contribution to his benevolent fund
accrued as of today, will be forfeited with effect from the 5th of December,
2000.
2. Ajay Sharma is debarred from playing any cricket matches
conducted or authorized by ICC/BCCI or affiliated associations and also
debarred from holding any position in ICC/BCCI or any of its affiliated
associations, for life commencing from the 5th of December, 2000. He will
also be not eligible for any benefit matches allotted/conducted by the BCCI
or its affiliated members, and the BCCI's contribution to his benevolent fund
accrued as of today, will be forfeited with effect from the 5th of December
2000.
3. Ajay Jadeja is debarred from playing any cricket matches
conducted or authorized by ICC/BCCI or any of its affiliated associations,
for a period of five years commencing from the 5th of December, 2000.
4. Manoj Prabhakar.... for a period of five years
commencing from the 5th of December 2000.
5. Dr.Ali Irani will be debarred for a period of
five years, commencing from the 5th of December 2000.
6. Nayan Mongia is exonerated.
7. Ram Adhar is exonerated.
Mail Cricket Editor