Former Indian cricket captains among top tax defaulters: report

Already reeling from a match-fixing scandal, Indian cricket is set to take another beating when income tax officals publish a list of players and officials who have defaulted on their returns.

According to a report in The Statesman newspaper on Thursday, former captain Mohammad Azharuddin, who was banned for life on Tuesday for fixing matches, will feature near the top of the defaulters' list, along with former captain and coach Kapil Dev.

Kapil Dev was exonerated from all match-fixing charges by two reports compiled by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Indian cricket board.

Players Ajay Sharma, Ajay Jadeja and Manoj Prabhakar, who were punished Tuesday for consorting with bookies, will also feature on the income tax department's list.

"Under the prevailing circumstances, the report is most likely to be given to the Ministry of Finance sometime next week," The Statesman quoted an income tax official as saying.

The income tax department and CBI carried out a series of raids across the country on players and board officials several months ago.

"Those who were raided and investigated have concealed major chunks of their income, assets and investments. In some cases, they have not even filed their regular tax returns," the official said.

The Statesman said team physiotherapist Ali Irani and several members of the Board of Cricket Control in India would also be listed as tax evaders.

Heavy penalties of up to 300 per cent of the concealed income could be imposed if guilt is established.

Mail Cricket Editor