Question the selectors too, says MCA

The Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) has urged the Indian board to order an inquiry against Kiran More and Pranab Roy, the two selectors who accused Abhijit Kale of offering a bribe for a place in the national team. Balasaheb Thorve, the MCA chairman, insisted that the board should look into both sides of the story.

"Merely conducting an inquiry against Kale would not suffice as it is also necessary to find out whether there was any substance in the allegations made by the selectors that Kale had offered them a bribe," Thorve said, according to the Press Trust of India. "I am writing a letter to the BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya that just like the inquiry against Kale, there should also be an inquiry against those who have made the allegation or else it will be a one-sided affair.

"The allegations were of a very serious nature and have put cricket, known as gentlemen's game, in very bad light. Hence, it is imperative that both the parties should be probed."

The BCCI had ordered an inquiry against Kale and suspended him from playing all matches conducted by the board after the bribery issue had come to light. Meanwhile, the MCA also set up a three-member panel to investigate the affair.

Earlier reports suggested that Kale would appear before the panel today (November 22), but Avinash Ghatpande, the MCA joint secretary, clarified that no particular date had been allotted. "We have not given him any deadline. The inquiry will begin as soon as he comes to Pune," he said. "I tried to contact him on Saturday but he could not be reached. I have left a message at his residence that the MCA Managing Committee wants to probe the whole matter."