Verdict on 'fixers' deferred till Dec 5
Rifat Jawaid in Calcutta
As hinted by Kamal Morarka and Raj Singh Dungarpur on Wednesday morning while the emergency meeting of the BCCI was under way, the Board of Cricket for Control in India has decided to defer a final verdict on the cricketers named in the Central Bureau of Investigation report on match-fixing till December 5.
The board now says it will keep the individual player's contribution towards the country in mind before reaching any conclusion, a subtle indication that it is not prepared to initiate harsh measures against the those named in the repot.
Addressing a crowded press conference at the Taj Bengal’s Crystal room, BCCI president AC Muthiah said the delay in pronouncing punishment on the five tainted players is because of sharp differences of opinion among the board members. He denied charges that the delay is intended to protect the guilty.
"I am not trying to protect anyone. People in the meeting expressed different opinions about the punishment to be taken against the players. I am only telling you the sentiments expressed by members in the meeting. Many members wanted to make special consideration against the players whose contribution towards their country is immense. I have to take each individual's opinion, and take all of them into confidence, before spelling out any verdict," Muthiah informed.
Muthiah, however, added that punishment would be "very strict, stricter than what is being given in other countries".
"None of us is trying to even delay the process. Everyone is in favour of delivering the penalty at the earliest. We will meet once again before taking any action against the players indicted in the CBI report," he said.
Muthiah said Madhavan's report is "not final" and the prerogative to decide on punitive measures against those accused of throwing away the matches rests with the BCCI disciplinary committee.
Asked whether the BCCI's investigation in the match-fixing and betting scandal is over, Muthiah said the internal inquiry has finally come to an end. He, however, did not rule out the possibility of the guilty players approaching the judiciary after the BCCI pronounces its punishment.
"We have to also protect the board. We have already sought legal opinion and would go for one or two more opinions. But this will not prevent the players from going to court," Muthiah said.
When reminded that Madhavan had exonerated Nayan Mongia of all charges in his report, the BCCI chief said the former CBI director's suggestions does not mean that the former India wicketkeeper would be spared by the BCCI.
Muthiah was critical of the CBI's comments on the functioning of the BCCI. Terming the CBI comments as "inaccurate", Muthiah said the investigating agency's observations lacked "proper basis of information".
In response to the CBI's allegation that "India had undersold itself" in three major tournaments by securing less than deserved guarantee money, Muthiah said the Indian board received much more money than what the investigating agency feels.
"The CBI says that the BCCI received only Rs 1.5 crore, whereas the fact is that we got Rs. 10.75 crore. Similarly, there is a huge discrepancy when in comes to the money received from the event. Here again we got Rs 235.5 crore against the CBI's claims of receiving only Rs 26 crore.
"The CBI was also critical about our zonal selection procedure, but I believe that there is nothing wrong in selecting the players based on each zone. India being a vast country, it is imperative for us to give thrust to the zonal system in order to get fine talent from each corner of the country . How can you expect me to accept something which is not true at all," Muthiah said.
Muthiah ruled out the chances of erasing the players' records. He said the board wouldn't like to take such extreme measures since it entailed a lot of technical handicaps.
BCCI secretary Jaywant Lele was also present during the press meet.
Earlier report:
Where's the proof?
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