Prabhakar gets his Benevolent Money (10 October 1998)

10 October 1998

Prabhakar gets his Benevolent Money

By Gulu Ezekiel

The BCCI has decided to release the entire benevolent fund amount due to ex-Test all-rounder Manoj Prabhakar which it had withheld after his retirement two years ago. This was confirmed in Mumbai by BCCI executive secretary Sharad Diwadkar.

Last month Prabhakar had threatened to sue the board for non-release of his funds. The board had withheld the amount after Prabhakar came out with unsubstantiated allegations about match-fixing and bribery within the Indian cricket team. A board enquiry exonerated the players while censuring Prabhakar for his comments. The board also claimed he had brought the game into disrepute.

Prabhakar, who played in 129 one-day internationals and 39 Tests had in a legal notice to the board prior to the AGM in Calcutta last month warned that if it failed to release the funds within four weeks he would "initiate appropriate legal proceedings."

The board took the decision at the AGM itself. Prabhakar had announced his retirement in March, 1996 shortly after the Wills World Cup.

The legal notice stated that a substantial part of Prabhakar's match fees were deducted by the board for deposition of the same in the benevolent fund meant for him. Prabhakar captured 96 wickets and scored 1,567 runs in Tests and 157 wickets and 1,855 runs in one-day internationals.

Source :: CricInfo365