Disciplinary committee to hear
Bindra, Chopra on Thursday

Former Board of Control for Cricket in India president I S Bindra and off-spinner Nikhil Chopra have been asked to appear before the BCCI disciplinary committee, in Madras, on Thursday, to clear themselves of different charges.

The BCCI had issued a show-cause notice to Bindra -- following his 'outbursts' against the working of the board -- for allegedly having brought disrepute to the BCCI and the game of cricket, while Chopra has been summoned in connection with the match-fixing report of the Central Bureau of Investigation and BCCI's internal inquiry.

BCCI president A C Muthiah said the committee's findings would be placed before the BCCI general body for its decision.

He said Kamal Morarka will be replaced by N Amin of Baroda, a vice-president of the board, on the disciplinary committee, when Bindra is interrogated. The other members of the committee are Muthiah (chairman) and K N Ramprasad of Karnataka.

On action against Chopra, Muthiah said: "The committee will go into the merits of the case and take into consideration the report submitted by K Madhavan, BCCI's investigating officer, before deciding on the punishment to a player."

Asked whether fresh findings of the Income Tax authorities (Investigative Wing) would be dealt with during Chopra's inquiry, Muthiah said, "It has to be discussed with the player. Obviously, Madhavan could not have questioned him on this, as the inquiry was held much before the IT report."

Asked whether the decision on Chopra's case would be announced on Thursday itself, Muthiah said: "It is premature to say anything. It all depends on the committee's findings."

Chopra was initially the member of the Indian team for the five-match one-day series against Zimbabwe, but was not included in the playing eleven in the opening match at Cuttack. He was subsequently excluded from the team as he had not been queried then by Madhavan.

Chopra's hopes of finding a berth in the national team to play the Australians (February-April) would depend on the disciplinary committee exonerating the player before February 5, the first day of the six-day camp.

he team to play the visiting Australians will be picked on February 15, the last day of the three-day Challengers series, slated to be played from February 12 to 15, in Madras.

Mail Cricket Editor