Match-fixing in India? Not possible, says Lele

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jaywant Lele has the knack of staying in the news and offering his views on a range of subjects including match-fixing. Even as the tainted players were being dropped from the Indian squad, Lele, in an interview to a TV channel on Sunday, maintained that match-fixing was not possible in India. Lele said "I don't know about other countries, but as far as India is concerned, match-fixing is not possible."

During the course of the interview, Lele reminded viewers that the five most important names in the Indian team - Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Javagal Srinath and Anil Kumble - were not involved in the scandal. "If their names are not there, match-fixing cannot take place," he said.

Asked about the alleged statements he made in the video tapes clandestinely shot by Manoj Prabhakar, Lele dismissed them saying "I did not tell him anything. He has made it all up himself. It's all unauthorised, unethical and not acceptable."

Asked to comment on the "Hansiegate" scam, Lele shot back ``Jaake CBI se pucho, Delhi Police se pucho, aur koi investigating agency hai, unse pucho (Go and ask the CBI, Delhi Police or any other investigating agency)." On the demand by a few former cricketers on the Board's takeover by the Government, Lele said it was their perception.

The BCCI secretary admitted the fact that the Indian Cricket Board was the richest cricket body in the world. Lele said that the lack of funds for other sporting bodies were because of their poor marketing strategy. "They may not be knowing how to market the sports," he said.

Lele denied the charges made by former BCCI president IS Bindra who said officials were responsible for the present mess. He said "It's not the officials who play, it is the players who play and the administrators have no influence on players." Replying to a question on the administrators' lack of experience in playing the game, Lele said "It's not necessary that the best player can be a good selector or a good coach.''

On a final note, Lele admitted that the game had definitely taken a beating after the match-fixing episode but added the situation would change if the Indian team starts winning. Probably the BCCI has fired its first salvo towards regaining public trust by dropping the tainted players for the forthcoming tournament in Nairobi and hoping that the side does well.