CBI report has failed to
substantiate any charges: Dalmiya

Rifat Jawaid in Calcutta

Former ICC president Jagmohan Dalmiya has termed the Central Bureau of Investigation findings on match-fixing as vague.

Talking to reporters at his Theatre Road office on Monday, he said the CBI report is as good as the hawala case.

"It would be quite uncharitable for me to criticise the functioning of India's premier investigative agency. However, I find the CBI's report on match-fixing quite surprising, for it has failed to substantiate any charges against the guilty players. A large part of the report deals in criticising the BCCI officials.

"The report says the BCCI has miserably failed in discharging its duties. An investigative agency has no right to say how should we run a cricket body," Dalmiya said.

He added that he received a message from BCCI president A C Muthiah apprising him about the special meeting of board officials, scheduled to be held in Calcutta later this month, where a comprehensive reply of the points raised by the CBI in its report on match-fixing would be formulated.

Asked what he thinks about the punishment for those found guilty of match-fixing, Dalmiya said one needs to keep many factors under consideration before reaching any conclusion. He, however, said that fixing matches is as as heinous a crime as selling the motherland.

"While deciding on the accused in match-fixing, one must draw a line between under performance and fixing of matches. One mustn't forget that even if we exonerate the indicted players later, we will not be able to redeem their lost reputation. It takes years of hard work and dedication to build reputation. And we have no right to attack somebody's reputation without any substantial proof.

"If passing information about weather and pitch conditions are considered crime, then shouldn't commentators too be brought under the same charges? After all, they do nothing different while going out in the field and letting the entire world know about the pitch condition. Bookies too watch their comments," Dalmiya said, adding he hopes truth will finally prevail should the concerned investigative agency discharge its task sincerely.

Mail Cricket Editor