Banned stars to be stripped of awards

Three cricketers are to be stripped of India's most prestigious sporting award because of their links with match-fixing.

The coveted Arjuna awards for sporting excellence will be taken back from former captain Mohammad Azharuddin as well as from Ajay Jadeja and Manoj Prabhakar, Sports Minister Uma Bharati told parliament on Friday.

"We have written to these three players for their stand and will take necessary action regarding withdrawing the Arjuna Awards," she announced in parliament.

The three have been given 15 days to reply to the letters. The Sports Minister said that the decision to strip the cricketers of their awards had been taken after discussion with the Law Ministry.

Azharuddin was banned for life and Jadeja suspended for five years after they were found guilty of match-fixing and associating with bookmakers by Indian federal investigators.

Prabhakar, a former Test player also found guilty, was additionally barred for five years from holding any official post in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Ms Bharati, however, cleared the BCCI of any wrongdoing in the scandal. "There does not seem to be anything to suggest the role of BCCI authorities in match-fixing," she said.

Meanwhile, the CBI is continuing its efforts to unearth more information regarding the match-fixing scandal. According to various sources some more information has been acquired by the CBI regarding a one-day match between India and South Africa at Rajkot several years ago.

The CBI is continuing these investigations on its own, simply to protect its reputation. It believes that a section of the BCCI is trying to find loopholes in the CBI report.

Ms Bharati has also stated that sponsors who invested money in cricket would also be investigated regarding their links with the game and the bookmakers.

The question was raised in parliament by the CPIM member Dipankar Mukherjee. He asked: "After the match-fixing allegations have come up, the CBI has investigated cricketers, officials of the Board of Control for Cricket in India and various other people suspected of having dubious links with the game. However, there has been no enquiry as to why so many corporate houses are eager to sponsor the game and its players."

He Added: "There must be some reason as to why huge amounts are invested in cricket. The CBI should also look into this matter."

Replying, Ms Bharati said that the CBI would definitely look into the issue. "The CBI has carried out its inquiry. If members of the House feel that something more needs to be done then the Government will certainly do it."