Sobers surprised to see Azhar, Cronje involved in match-fixing

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) commissioner of inquiries K Madhavan said on Saturday that he will commence his work and start questioning the five players who have been named in the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) interim report sometime next week.

Talking to PTI, Madhavan said "I will submit my report to the BCCI latest by November 16 on the factual and legal aspects in relation to the CBI report." He added that the BCCI had asked him to study the CBI report and make further inquiries as may be required and interview players who figure in the CBI report.

Madhavan also said that the players would be given further chance to explain their conduct. The BCCI has announced it will submit its report to the government by November 18 just before the winter session of Parliament starting from November 20. Earlier Dhindsa said that the report will be discussed during the session.

In a related development, the CBI dismissed the claims made by the former Indian captain Ajay Jadeja at his press conference that the report was 'false and concocted'. A CBI spokesman said "whatever the CBI has stated in the report is on the basis of evidence in possession of the agency. The agency had procured printouts of telephone calls made by both Ajay Jadeja and bookie Uttam Chand alias 'Topi' from various cellular phone companies. The calls were made only during matches and there were instances of even late night telephonic conversations.

The CBI has written a letter to the Income Tax authorities to provide details of the assets owned by Mohd Azharuddin and Ajay Sharma so that they can contemplate proceeding against them under the Prevention of Corruption Act since they were public servants.

Earlier, the CBI Special Director G Achari, who is the overall incharge of the investigations into the match-fixing scandal, said "We will pursue the case against the two players under the PCA and we will not allow the matter to rest. We are gathering more evidence against these two players and are waiting for more inputs from Income Tax Authorities." He added "at some stage we may call them for further questioning, though not for the time being."

PTI quoting sources close to the IT department said the department had almost finalised the "appraisal report" about the raids conducted at the premises of several top cricketers, administrators and bookies. While a major portion of the appraisal report would be finalised by the end of this month, some may spill over to the next month. The nation wide raids were carried out on July 20-21.

The sources said "We have achieved reasonable success in the probe against cricketers and bookies who have huge concealed incomes from various sources." The sources added that the department has found some "new leads" on the financial dealings of a bookie who is a key player in the entire episode.

Meanwhile, the Union Home Minister LK Advani said that his ministry is examining the report on the scandal and would take a decision on the prosecution of the players and those involved in the scandal in consultation with the Law Ministry.

Reacting to the CBI report on the Hansiegate scandal, West Indian legend, Sir Garfield Sobers said "it is the most terrible thing to happen to the game." In an interview to The Week magazine, Sobers said "Whoever is involved, it is the most terrible thing to happen for the game of cricket," and added "it is like betraying your country for money." Recalling his playing days when the players used to get only a meagre remuneration, Sobers said "still, nobody stooped so low for money."

The greatest all rounder in the game said "I can't believe that Mohammed Azharuddin could do such a thing." He added "I never expected former South African captain Hansie Cronje too to be involved in match-fixing."

Meanwhile according to an AFP report from Pakistan, former captain Intikhab Alam demanded that Stewart be suspended from the team till he is proven innocent. Alam said "England cricket officials now have to eat their own words as they had demanded suspension of several Pakistani players." He added that the ECB (English and Wales Cricket Board) should "suspend Stewart until he is proven innocent." He said "The Indian report has opened a Pandora's box and it will take a long time to clear the game of cricket from such an ugly situation."

But another former captain Imran Khan defended the ECB. Differing on the issue, he said "The ECB is right to keep Stewart in the team but their stance against Pakistani players was ridiculous." His former team mate and paceman Sarfraz Nawaz said "Now the ECB is defending their players and only recently they had demanded Pakistani players' suspension. They must send Stewart back."

Echoing similar sentiments, Haseeb Ahsan said he agreed with Sarfraz. "When the ECB can call for Wasim Akram's suspension, we must ask them to suspend Stewart," he said. Ahsan also wanted Stewart to clarify his relationship with Manoj Prabhakar. Ahsan said "Stewart has admitted he met Prabhakar. Now he must reveal what Prabhakar said to him and when they met John (Mukesh Gupta)."