Banned players' records to stand

The Board of Control for Cricket in India, which has banned or suspended four Test players named in a report on match-fixing, said it has no plans to erase their records.

"We decided not to do it. That will create other complications," BCCI president A.C. Muthiah said over phone from Madras.

A.C. Muthiah

The BCCI banned former skipper Mohammad Azharuddin and Ajay Sharma from cricket for life and suspended Ajay Jadeja and former all-rounder Manoj Prabhakar for five years after an internal inquiry based on a Central Bureau of Investigation probe.

Muthiah said BCCI officials had discussed erasing the records of players found to be involved in match-fixing, but had finally deciding against such a step because it would affect partnership records.

CONTINUING DISQUIET

Muthiah said K. Madhavan, who conducted an internal BCCI investigation based on the CBI report, might interview former skipper and coach Kapil Dev.

"Any complaints, we have asked him to review," Muthiah said, adding that there had been continuing disquiet over India not enforcing a follow-on against New Zealand in a test match at Ahmedabad last year when Dev was India's coach.

Sachin Tendulkar, who led India in that game, spoke to CBI investigators about it.

"On being asked whether anybody could have influenced this decision since the bookies allegedly knew one day in advance that the follow-on would not be enforced, he accepted that it was possible," the report said.

Tendulkar was man of that match but New Zealand managed to force a draw with India.

Dev denied all allegations of match-fixing and involvement with bookmakers and was exonerated by the CBI report.

Muthiah said off-spinner Nikhil Chopra, one of those questioned by CBI and whose house was searched by income tax authorities, would also be interviewed by Madhavan.

"Chopra will meet Madhavan, who will enquire based on the CBI report," he said, adding that clearance by the BCCI investigator was necessary for the player to be considered for future selection.

The CBI report said it did not find any evidence of wrongdoing against the bowler. Chopra was chosen in the 14-member Indian squad for their current one-day international series against Zimbabawe, but has not yet played.

Mail Cricket Editor