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