BCCI, Govt play it safe

With both parties keen on a peaceful solution to the acrimonious issue of the Code of Conduct for players and officials, Hussain sought to dispel misgivings about a possible confrontation.

“We don’t want any confrontation with BCCI. We want the Board to co-operate with the government in rooting out corruption from the game,” Hussain said.

However, he cautioned that the government would not be a “silent spectator” and it wanted BCCI to be made accountable for its actions.

He said the government was not interested in interfering in the Board’s functioning. “We want to honour the autonomous structure of the Board.”

BCCI has prepared a `vision report’ detailing it’s plans for the promotion of the game in the next five years, and measures undertaken to popularise cricket.

The Sports Ministry expects a copy the Code of Conduct with the `vision report’, but Board president AC Muthiah had said on Sunday that the new Code was not ready and they would only discuss the salient features with the minister Dhindsa and get his views for inclusion in the Code.

When pointed that Dhindsa was on record saying he expected BCCI to submit the draft Code, a Board source said in that case “we will present a copy of ICC Code and tell the government that a similar draft was being prepared which would incorporate newer clause specially in the wake of match-fixing scandal”.

Stressing the need for an implementable Code, the source said two views prevailed at the BCCI special committee meeting here.

While one section favoured stricter provision for players and officials, the other lay stress on having a Code which could be implemented properly.

“Unreasonable restrictions which cannot be implemented are of no use and will only make the Board a laughing stock,” the source said.

With Board president Muthiah denying that there was a proposal to `gag’ the captain, the source said in fact the issue never came up at the meeting.

“I don’t know from where the issue crept in,” he said.

Monday’s meeting to finalise the `vision report’ was attended by Muthiah, former ICC president Jagmohan Dalmiya, former BCCI Chief Raj Singh Dungarpur, secretary Jaywant Lele, tresurer and special committee convenor Kishore Rungta and vice-president Kamal Morarka.

CBI quizzes Ajay Sharma in London

NEW DELHI: A CBI team has questioned prolific Delhi batsman Ajay Sharma in London on his alleged links with some bookies.

The team comprising Joint Director RN Sawani and Deputy Inspector General YK Singh, which left for London soon after the country-wide Income Tax raids on the premises of cricketers and others questioned Sharma on Friday.

When contacted, Sharma told PTI from London that the team had met him on Friday and asked several questions about the controversey.

“I have made my stand clear and answered every single query of the CBI officials,” Sharma said.

Sharma, who is playing for a minor-county in London, had left the country immediately after the scandal came into light. He is the seventh cricketer to be questioned by the agency.

The team has also met Scotland Yard Police and sought its co-operation as the case had international ramifications and needed a thorough inquiry into almost every cricket playing nation, highly-placed agency sources said.

A two-member team from the Scotland Yard represented by Sergeants Martin Hawkins and Hulbraid had visited India on May 4 and met the CBI officials and provided telephone numbers of Indian bookies whose names surfaced during their investigations.