BCCI plans to make inaccuracies
in CBI report public
The Board of Control for Cricket in India has plans to make public its observations on inaccuracies in the Central Bureau of Investigation report submitted to the Union
Government after investigations into allegations of match-fixing and betting.
BCCI president A C Muthiah, in a statement in Madras on Thursday, said: "The working committee or the special general body of the board will discuss each and every point in the report that
reflects the working of the board, and even think of
circulating the board's observations to parliamentarians and making it public."
He added: "There are good number of inaccuracies in the
CBI report in relation to the working of the board. The board
has been in existence for over 70 years as an autonomous body
and the status of the BCCI cannot be discredited.
"Even as the CBI started its investigations into the
allegations of match-fixing and betting, the board has
implemented fresh requisitions through its Code of Conduct for
players, administrators and umpires, which contains stringent
clauses such as a life ban."
In furtherance to these decisions, Muthiah said the board also appointed K Madhavan, former CBI joint director, as BCCI commissioner, to investigate and report to the board. All
these were done, he said, to eradicate any malpractice in future and
with a view to bring back the image of the game in India.
"Considering these factors, certain uncalled for references in
the CBI report are unwarranted," Muthiah said.
In respect of the five cricketers who have been banned
temporarily after the CBI report was released, Muthiah said Madhavan has been provided a copy of the report and he will hold an internal inquiry with the players, individually.
The players and Dr Ali Irani, former physio of the Indian
team, have been asked to appear before Madhavan.
The BCCI chief maintained that the guilty will be punished.
The statement also says that Madhavan is expected to
submit his observations to the disciplinary committee of the
board, which in turn will discuss it threadbare at a working
committee or special general body meeting before a decision is taken before November 30.
About India touring Pakistan next year, Muthiah said
the board had sought permission from the government well in
advance and a reply from the Centre is expected by November 15.
Mail Cricket Editor