Muthiah expects Madhavan to suggest punishments

Board of Control for Cricket in India president A C Muthiah says the BCCI internal inquiry into match-fixing allegations by former CBI joint director K Madhavan is likely to suggest punishments to the guilty players, though Madhavan himself has said it is for the board to decide on the punishments.

"The (Madhavan) report is likely to suggest penalties for the guilty, which could range from a life ban to erasing the records of the guilty from the books," Muthiah, who is in Sharjah to attend the Asian Cricket Council meeting, told The Khaleej Times.

However, Madhavan on Thursday said in New Delhi that he will not recommend any punishment even if he finds any of the players guilty.

"I will not recommend any punishment and allow the BCCI to decide the appropriate action against the guilty (if found)," Madhavan, who was appointed by the BCCI to look into the CBI report on match-fixing on November 1, said.

Muthiah also felt that the inquiry by Madhavan would not reveal anything new.

"The BCCI report will not drastically differ from the CBI report in nature and content. The exercise is being done because it is obligatory for a department to follow up on the CBI findings," The Khaleej Times quoted Muthiah as saying.

Madhavan also justified the separate inquiry by the BCCI. "Even when a government employee is named by the CBI for allegedly abusing an official position, a departmental inquiry is initiated against the official to verify the charges levelled," he said.

Mail Cricket Editor