BCCI officials depose before CBI, Hussain warns players

For the first time since the match-fixing scandal broke, three officials of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) were questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday. BCCI president AC Muthiah, secretary Jaywant Lele and treasurer Kishore Rungta deposed before the agency's headquarters in New Delhi for over three hours.

At the end of the meeting, Muthiah told reporters "we discussed general things and exchanged information they wanted about the functioning of the BCCI, its constitution and the various subcommittees. The I-T raids were not discussed at all. Match-fixing also did not figure in our discussion."

Muthiah added that he had asked the CBI to expedite the entire case so that ``the hype created against the game could ease and doubts over the performance of the players could stop." While a CBI spokesman said it was ``a mutual exchange of views,'' Muthiah said they were asked them about the functioning of the BCCI and how the elections were held.

Muthiah replied in the negative when asked whether questions were asked on the comments made by Lele to a web site. It may be recalled that the Board secretary had made some comments about players in Prabhakar's clandestine video tapes. Muthiah however stood firm by the players whose names are making the rounds in the match fixing scandal, saying that they would not be dropped. "Let them prove that they are guilty. The question of taking action could come only after that,'' he said.

Meanwhile, the two member CBI team RN Sawani and YP Singh returned from England after questioning former Indian player Ajay Sharma. The two also met Scotland Yard officials handling the match-fixing case.

On a separate front, Minister of State for Sports Shahnawaz Hussain issued a stern warning to cricketers. Talking at a function in Kollam, Hussain said those found guilty in the 'Hansiegate' scam would be dealt with severely. Hussain said "match-fixing was similar to treason committed by a soldier against his nation while engaged in war."