BCCI undecided in Kale case

The disciplinary committee of the BCCI is still undecided about its verdict on Abhijit Kale. A few more meetings will be held in the next few weeks and a final decision is expected by the end of next month. Pranab Roy and Kiran More, the two national selectors who had accused Kale of offering them a bribe, were present during the one-and-half-hour hearing on Thursday.

The three-man committee comprised Jagmohan Dalmiya, the president of the BCCI, and the vice-presidents, Kamal Morarka and Ranbir Singh Mahendra. S K Nair, the secretary, was also present at the hearing. Dalmiya gave his reasons for postponing the date for the final decision. "No decision was been taken today as we need to hold a few more meetings for hearing some witnesses."

According to sources, Kale was told to decide by Monday whether he was going to produce any other evidence in the form of a witness. Kale had initially turned down the proposal at the hearing, but has been granted some more time to take his decision.

"I have conveyed my side of the story in the reply to the showcause [notice]," Kale is reported to have told the committee. Kale was also fully confident that he would be able to prove his innocence. "I am confident that I will come out clean whatever be the accusations against me." The selectors, however, will provide witnesses at the next hearing.