Madhavan has said that Azhar fixed matches: Muthiah
Onkar Singh
Board of Control for Cricket in India president Dr A C Muthiah informed that BCCI's vigilance commissioner K Madhavan has confirmed the Central Bureau of Investigation's finding that former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin had indeed fixed matches.
"Madhavan in his report has said that there is enough evidence that Azhar was a match fixer," Muthiah told a
crowded press conference, after he met Sports Minister Uma Bharti on Monday evening.
However, Muthiah said Madhavan did not find enough evidence against
the others named in the CBI report, to say that they too
were involved in match-fixing.
"As regards the other players named by the CBI in its report as match
fixers, which include Manoj Prabhakar, Nayan Mongia,
Ajay Sharma and Ajay Jadeja, Mr Madhavan has arrived at
the conclusion that though all of them had connections
with bookies, they were not involved in match-fixing. Dr Ali Irani was a conduit between
these players and the bookies, and used to accept money on their behalf," Muthiah said.
Meanwhile, R N Savani, joint director of the CBI who headed
the investigations in the match-fixing case, told
rediff.com that the agency stands by its report.
"How can Madhavan arrive at the conclusion that Azhar is
a match fixer and absolve Ajay Sharma, when it has been
fully established that it was Ajay Sharma who was
instrumental in introducing bookies to Azhar. We have
enough evidence to nail the other players, including
Prabhakar, Jadeja and Mongia.
"Did Madhavan say who told Mongia to go slow in the Kanpur match? Ali Irani
did not accept money on behalf of all the players but
Azhar only," said Savani.
He promised to give more details once the full text of the Madhavan report is
made available to the media.
When asked whether the BCCI is still committed to take
stringent action against the players, Muthiah said a final decision on imposing penalties and punishment would be
taken only after the tainted players appear before the
board officials in Delhi on Tuesday.
"I have written to every named player, including Azhar, to appear before us
tomorrow. This would be the last opportunity to clarify their stand. If someone does not turn up we will take an ex-parte decision regarding that player. I sincerely hope all of them will turn up in Delhi
tomorrow," Muthiah said.
Would you impose a life ban? "The board has said that
we will take stringent action against the players
involved either in match-fixing or for their nexus
with bookies. The minister, Ms Bharti, told me to
take quick action and put the matter to an end as
early as possible. Therefore, a life ban is not ruled
out. Depending upon the involvement of the other
players we would decide the punishment of the rest of
the players.
"We have decided to accept the report of
Mr Madhavan in its totality and action would be
taken accordingly. I do not rule out lighter
punishment for some others. They could be banned for
a period spanning six months to two years, or can
even be let off after paying a heavy fine," Dr Muthiah
said.
He promised to release the full text of the Madhavan
report to the media on November 29, in Calcutta.
When asked if he raised the issue of the tour of the Indian cricket team to Pakistan, which has been turned down by the government, Muthiah said that this issue did not come up for discussion at all.
"During my hour-long meeting this matter did not come up. The government has taken a decision on
this matter. If they feel that it is not in the national interest to go to Pakistan, the board will abide by it," Muthiah clarified.
He also announced that Ram Adhar Choudhury, one of the curators of the Feroseshah Kotla ground in New Delhi, who was suspended by the Delhi District Cricket Association after the CBI implicated him in its match-fixing report, has been exonerated.
Mail Cricket Editor
