India suspend five in fix claims

Azharuddin played for India in last year's World Cup

India have suspended former captain Mohammad Azharuddin and four other cricketers named in match-fixing allegations.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India said on Friday that the five would not be allowed to play in international or domestic matches until investigations were complete.

Joining Azharuddin on the sidelines are Ajay Jadeja, Ajay Sharma, Nayan Mongia and Manoj Prabhakar.

Board President A.C Muthiah told the Reuters news agency their suspension from BCCI games was "not as yet" a life ban, but promised tough action if the findings went against them.

He said: "Since the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) has named five players we have asked all state associations to suspend them."

Report

BCCI secretary Jayawant Lele confirmed: "I have sent out letters to all concerned not to pick these players."

News of the suspensions come after the publication of the CBI report on match-fixing which named the Indian players along with a host of other international stars.

Muthiah said K Madhavan, a former joint director of the CBI, has been appointed commissioner of the inquiry and no further action would be taken until he had submitted his findings on the report to the BCCI in around a fortnight.

"Madhavan is an old hand in this field and he will recommend what action we have to take against the players," he said.

Muthiah, who is due to have a meeting with Sports Minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa later on Friday, added that life bans were likely for anyone found guilty.

"All members of the BCCI are committed to the common goal of clean and untainted cricket in India," he stressed.

The Indian Sports Minister, S S Dhindsa, has said the government would discuss whether the BCCI should be made accountable to the government.

Dismissed

But the suggestion has been dismissed by the secretary of the BCCI, Jaywant Lele, saying that the government has no right to interfere with the matters of the Board, which is an autonomous body.

The report submitted to the government by the CBI says the cricket board has no accountablility and that it was negligent in not preventing match-fixing in spite of clear signals regarding the issue.

Mr Dhindsa said a decision would be taken if a new law could be brought with regard to match-fixing after a parliamentary debate. The CBI report had said the board was in control of huge public funds but there were no rules which govern the manner in which these funds are utilised.

The report had said the appointment of coaches, physiotherapists and selectors were made in an arbitrary manner and names were suggested by some members of the BCCI whose knowldege of the game was questionable.

The report also said though there was no concrete evidence to suggest the direct involvement of any board members in the match-fixing scandal, their indifference to this matter did give rise to suspicion.

Sir Paul Condon, the head of the ICC's anti-corruption, is due in India next week to discuss the report with the CBI.