CBI probe going on at fast pace: Minister

These are comparatively quiet days in the match fixing case. The cricketing world awaits the outcome of South Africa's King Commission of inquiry. In India, the Central Bureau of Investigation is regularly questioning players and officials. But there can never be a total lull with the scam having spread worldwide. Cricket's biggest ever scandal is still making the headlines, be it in the print media, TV or the internet. Not a day passes without there being some `action' on the match fixing front.

On Saturday for example it was confirmed that contradictory statements in the scam need not be confined to India alone. Pakistan Cricket Board director of operation Yawar Saeed and UCBSA managing director Ali Bacher expressed different views on whether there was a growing east-west divide in the ICC.

Speaking to a news agency in Karachi, Saeed denied there was a rift between the powers of world cricket over the match fixing allegations. He was firmly of the view that no conflict had emerged at the recent ICC meeting in London. ``It is in nobody's interest and no such thing came up at the annual meeting.

However, Bacher hinted that all was not exactly smooth along these lines in the ICC. In a TV interview from Cape Town, Bacher when asked whether there was an east-west divide in world cricket's governing body, admitted there was tension. Bacher, rather than Saeed, might be closer to the more realistic view of the situation. It is obvious by now that while there is no immediate cause for concern, inflammatory statements on both sides since the match fixing case broke open has meant that the gulf between the east and west has become wider.

In the same interview, Bacher said that he had passed on `credible information' to the ICC's new anti corruption official that two matches in the last World Cup, India vs Pakistan and Bangladesh vs Pakistan, were fixed. ``The information that has been conveyed by me comes from people of integrity and highly reputed people. I do not believe that one can just sweep this under the carpet. It has got to go forward now to the anti corruption investigator. Let us see if he finds evidence. I am confident as I can be that he would. If I am am wrong, I will apologise,'' he said.

Asked whether players were particularly susceptible when they tour the sub continent, Bacher says ``it would appear at this point in time that there are potential problems when the players tour the sub continent but bookies from India now come into South Africa and offer South African players money.'' According to him, the problem in India is that the betting industry is illegal except for horse racing and hence bookies tended to go underground. He advised the Indian authorities to look at this aspect.

Meanwhile, the contradictory statements continued unabated in India. The Minister of State for Sports Shahnawaz Hussain, speaking to reporters in Hyderabad, said cricketers found guilty in the match fixing scandal would be punished and there were no escape routes, however big they may be and whichever community they hailed from. To a query whether the cricketers, if found guilty would be pardoned for they had already suffered enough as suggested by the Law Minister Ram Jethmalani, Hussain said ``some ministers are only giving their personal views and they need not necessarily reflect that of the government.''

In fact Hussain went one step further and said that the deadline set for the cricketers who were allegedly involved in match fixing to disclose all details was over and the government was determined to bring the culprits to book. He also had a word of praise for the CBI which he said is probing the match fixing scandal at a much faster pace than is being imagined by many. No time limit had been set up for the CBI to submit its report but this was expected to be over very soon, he said.

There is also growing concern in the Ministry about the functioning of the Board of Control for Cricket in India and Hussain, mirroring this, said that his ministry is working on a proposal put forward by former Indian captain Bishen Bedi that a representative of the government find a place on the BCCI for more accountability. ``We don't want to be mere spectators to the dirty sport that is going on. We will take necessary steps for a more transparent administration of the game without actually interfering in its working'' said Hussain emphatically.