BCCI rules out review of Azhar, Jadeja bans

The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Wednesday ruled out any out of court settlement or review of the bans imposed on Mohammad Azharuddin and Ajay Jadeja for their alleged role in the match-fixing scandal.

"Jadeja had filed an application in the court seeking a review of his five-year ban. We had forwarded the application for legal opinion, which concluded that there is no scope for review," BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya told reporters in Delhi, after a meeting of the Working Committee.

The BCCI had imposed a five-year ban on Jadeja and a life ban on Azharuddin after their names figured in the CBI report on betting and match-fixing.

Dalmiya also said a Hyderabad court had asked the board to reach an out of court settlement with Azharuddin. "But after consulting legal experts we are of the view that there is no dispute with Azharuddin at all.

"The life ban imposed on Azharuddin was on the basis of investigations by CBI and there is no dispute between the cricket board and Azharuddin," Dalmiya said.

"Now the matters have to be sorted out whichever way the courts decide," he added.

Stressing the need for accountability within the system, from players as well as administrators, Dalmiya said he would initiate a process of discussions with the captains of all Ranji teams.

"Nothing below the performance commensurate to potential will be accepted from the players," he said.

The Working Committee also decided to build a new stadium in Delhi, for which 30 acres of land had already been acquired. The capacity of the stadium would be around 75,000-80,000 and have all modern facilities, Dalmiya said.

The meeting endorsed the setting up of a Communication and Co-ordination Committee for professional and quicker dissemination of information from the board. The committee, with Amrit Mathur as its director, will coordinate with the media, sponsors and various government agencies.

The formation of a three-member legal panel, comprising Dalmiya as chairman and Arun Jaitley and Kapil Sibal as two members, was also decided upon.

Dalmiya said the two-tier Ranji Trophy format would start from the season 2002-03 and not from the next season as reported in a section of the media.

He also announced programmes for 'Indianisation' of cricket, wherein the game would be promoted in as yet untapped areas like the north-east, Andaman and Nicobar islands and Lakshadweep.

Mail Cricket Editor