'Kapil has to clear his name': Dhindsa

Sports Minister SS Dhindsa has told an Indian newspaper that Kapil Dev should not go to Dhaka as Indian coach if Manoj Prabhakar has officially given his name to the CBI. "If the allegation has now been submitted to the investigating authorities, then ideally one should clear his name first. At least, I personally feel so", observed Dhindsa.

He was speaking in the context of reports that Prabhakar was questioned by the CBI at an unidentified location in South Delhi on Tuesday. It is a moot point though whether the BCCI, which reckons itself to be an independent body, will act on Dhindsa's suggestion.

Dhindsa seemed to recognise this when he added, "The BCCI officials, who are the ones to decide on the issue, have not spoken to me as yet. But if they do, I will tell them exactly this." In any case Prabhakar is believed not to taken any names in his introductory session with the CBI although further meetings are in the offing.

The final word on the subject may belong to Kapil himself, who suggested in his interview with BBC that he would take a decision on proceeding to Dhaka after meeting with the boys in Pune for the conditioning camp, starting May 14.

Dhindsa also spelled finis to his own role in the affair: "The Sports Ministry's role is now over. We have handed the case over to the CBI and I'll ask anybody, who has anything to say, to go to the CBI", he finished.