yehhaicricket.com

The Board of control of cricket  in India announced the much-awaited verdict on five players who were directly or indirectly involved in match-fixing after a meeting in Chennai on Tuesday. The meeting was headed by BCCI chief and chairman of the disciplinary committee AC Muthiah and disciplinary committee member KM Ramprasad. K Morarka, the third member of the committee abstained from the meeting citing personal reasons.

The BCCI has taken a decision on the basis of the findings of the Central Bureau of Investigation and its anti-corruption commissioner K Madhavan. The BCCI's observations are as follows:

The CBI has submitted a report titled "Report on Cricket Match-Fixing and Related Malpractices" in October 2000. The Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) had referred the matter to its Commissioner, Mr. K Madhavan, to make an appropriate enquiry. During Mr. Madhavan's further enquiry, he gave opportunities to Mr. Azharuddin, Mr. Ajay Jadeja, Mr. Ajay Sharma, Mr. Manoj Prabhakar, Mr. Nayan Mongia, Dr. Ali Irani and Mr. Ram Adhar to give their explanations to him which they did in the form of signed statements. Subsequently Mr. Madhavan, submitted his Report.

The aforesaid players/physiotherapist were given the notice to appear before the Disciplinary Committee of the Board on December 28, 2000 at Hotel Taj Mahal, Mansingh Road, New Delhi. At the said hearing, on December 28, 2000 the players/physiotherapist submitted their explanations.

The submissions made by the players/physiotherapist as mentioned above was given due consideration. It was put to the players/physiotherapist whether they are aware that if they are found guilty in the proceedings before the disciplinary committee then an appropriate action could be taken against them for which they had answered in the affirmative.

Thereafter, the proceedings were recorded and signed by all the members of the Disciplinary Committee and also by the players/physiotherapist.

The Disciplinary Committee has carefully considered the facts and the findings of the Report of the Commissioner arrived at on a consideration of the Report of the CBI, the statements/submissions made by the players/physiotherapist before the Commissioner and also the submissions made by them at the hearing on 28.11.2000 before the Disciplinary Committee. The Commissioner's Report has correctly dealt with these aspects and has held in his report that the explanation given by them are unacceptable to him for the reasons given in his report.

The Disciplinary Committee has considered the entire matter and the explanations and the oral submissions made by the players/physiotherapist and are unable to accept the same in the appropriate cases. After having considered the matter in its entirety and also on the basis of the submissions made by them before the Disciplinary Committee, the Committee is also of the opinion that the players/physiotherapist are guilty as found by the Commissioner.

The Disciplinary Committee is of the considered opinion that players/physiotherapist have conducted themselves in a manner which is prejudicial to the interests of the game of cricket. In taking its decision the Disciplinary Committee has also kept in mind the contributions made by the players/physiotherapist to the game of cricket.

After due deliberation and keeping in mind the interest of the future of the Indian Cricket, the members of the Disciplinary Committee present have unanimously taken the decision as follows:
1) "Mr.. Mohd. Azharuddin be debarred from playing any cricket matches conducted or authorised by ICC/BCCI or any of its affiliated associations and also debarred from holding any position in ICC/BCCI or any of its affiliated associations, for life commencing from 5th Deecember 2000. He will also be not eligible for any Benefit Matches allotted/conducted by the BCCI or its affiliated members and BCCI's contribution to his Benevolent Fund accrued as of today, will be forfeited with effect form 5th December 2000.

2) "Mr.. Ajay Sharma be debarred from playing any cricket matches conducted or authorised by ICC/BCCI or any of its affiliated associations and also debarred from holding any position in ICC/BCCI or any of its affiliated associations, for life commencing from 5th Deecember 2000. He will also be not eligible for any Benefit Matches allotted/conducted by the BCCI or its affiliated members and BCCI's contribution to his Benevolent Fund accrued as of today, will be forfeited with effect form 5th December 2000.

3) "Mr.. Ajay Jadeja be debarred from playing any cricket matches conducted or authorised by ICC/BCCI or any of its affiliated associations and also debarred from holding any position in ICC/BCCI or any of its affiliated associations, for a period of 5 (five) years commencing from 5th Deecember 2000. He will also be not eligible for any Benefit Matches allotted/conducted by the BCCI or its affiliated members and BCCI's contribution to his Benevolent Fund accrued as of today, will be forfeited with effect form 5th December 2000.

4) "Mr.. Manoj Prabhakar be debarred from playing any cricket matches conducted or authorised by ICC/BCCI or any of its affiliated associations and also debarred from holding any position in ICC/BCCI or any of its affiliated associations, for a period of 5 (five) years commencing from 5th Deecember 2000. He will also be not eligible for any Benefit Matches allotted/conducted by the BCCI or its affiliated members and BCCI's contribution to his Benevolent Fund accrued as of today, will be forfeited with effect form 5th December 2000. 5) "Mr.. Ali Irani be debarred from acting as Physiotherapist in any cricket matches conducted or authorised by ICC/BCCI or any of its affiliated associations and also debarred from holding any position in ICC/BCCI or any of its affiliated associations, for a period of 5 (five) years commencing from 5th Deecember 2000. He will also be not eligible for any Benefit Matches allotted/conducted by the BCCI or its affiliated members and BCCI's contribution to his Benevolent Fund accrued as of today, will be forfeited with effect form 5th December 2000.

6) "Mr.. Nayan Mongia be exonerated."

7) "Mr.. Ram Adhar be exonerated."

It was decided that the above decision will be communicated to all concerned by the Hony. Secretary of BCCI immediately.

Dr. A C Muthiah (Chairman - Disciplinary Committee)
K M Ram Prasad (Member - Disciplinary Committee)