CBI director satisfied with progress

The joint director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) RN Sawani said he was `satisfied' with his team's progress in the matchfixing case. Talking to a news agency in New Delhi on Wednesday, Sawani said ``we are satisfied with the progress of the probe so far." Asked if the agency had found any evidence in the case, Sawani said nothing could be revealed at this stage as ``it was an important ingredient of the preliminary report.''

Sawani said that the CBI was in the process of finalising its preliminary report and will submit a copy to the Sports Ministry in September. To another question on whether the report would include the names of those involved in the scandal, Sawani said "we will be replying to the queries raised by the ministry when the case was first handed over to the agency in May." He added at the end of the case "we will send them a comprehensive report covering various aspects of the controversy."

On summoning Kapil Dev, the joint director felt the need did not arise though there have been allegations against the Indian coach. Sawani said "We have not issued him (Kapil) any summons as we do not feel the need of questioning him at this stage. We may question a few others to corroborate the allegations against him. But if it is still felt necessary, we can consider questioning him." Once the report is handed over, a decision on it to be made public or not will be left to the Sports Ministry.

Meanwhile, in Johannesburg, a spokesman of the Sports Ministry said the interim report of the King Commission will be made public on Friday. The spokesman for the Sport and Recreation Ministry Gregory Abrahams said the report will be posted on the government's website." The interim report was submitted to the South African Sports Minister Ngconde Balfour on August 11 who in turn handed over the copy to the South African President Thabo Mbeki to study them. The report has the confessions that Hansie Cronje and others made before the Commission on the match-fixing and betting scandal.

The United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA) meanwhile said it was expecting a copy of the report today. Talking to a news agency, the UCBSA spokesman Bronwyn Wilkinson said "We won't comment on it until Monday when we make public the findings of the disciplinary hearings." He added that a copy will be given to ICC president Dave Richards, who is currently in South Africa.

Earlier at the submission of the report, Judge King who heads the Commission, said that more evidences will follow during the second sitting of the commission from October 2 which is expected to last for about two weeks.