Kale denies confessing

Abhijit Kale, the Maharashtra player who was accused of attempting to bribe national selectors for a spot in the Indian team, has vehemently denied reports that he had confessed.

"It's a wrong report," Kale said to The Times of India. "I maintain that I haven't offered them money," he said, referring to Kiran More and Pranob Roy, the two selectors who accused Kale of offering them bribes. The allegations let to a disciplinary committee being set up by the board, and Kale was prohibited from playing first-class cricket.

It could get worse. If the inquiry's findings - which will be released by Thursday - indict Kale, he could be banned for up to two years - a penalty sources within the board have hinted at. The Times of India had reported earlier that the disciplinary committee had dismissed the idea of letting Kale off with a fine. "There is no question of letting him off with a fine," the BCCI source said. "A fine is not enough punishment in such cases."