Working committee likely to address spot-fixing scam

While Duncan Fletcher’s future as coach, and the contract row between Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) and Sahara Group may top the BCCI working committee’s agenda on Tuesday, the recent spot-fixing scandal involving five domestic cricketers might also come up for discussion.

Although bans were imposed on TP Sudhindra, Shalabh Srivastava, Amit Yadav, Mohnish Mishra and Abhinav Bali, the BCCI is determined to cleanse the system of the fixing menace completely.

“We were never going to stop there,” a top BCCI official told this paper on Monday. “Just punishing them will not help. Players can be gullible and need to be educated on the traps waiting for them. We need to keep a watch on the whole system. Our associations need as much awareness as the players. Let’s see if our members have anything to say about this because the whole episode embarrassed us. We don’t want to be shamed anymore.”
It also remains to be seen whether Mohammad Azharuddin will be admitted into the BCCI’s fold, which should entitle him to the board’s ex-gratia benefits. The BCCI hasn’t taken a position with regard to the former India skipper after the Andhra Pradesh high court struck down his life ban. The BCCI deferred the decision on Azhar at its last working committee meeting, saying that its legal team was studying the case.

Should IPL the governing council also meet on Tuesday, Pakistan’s participation in the league could be deliberated upon. Although Pakistan have been snubbed by the IPL again, the franchisees, in view of their incredible performance in the recent ODI series, are extremely keen on having them on their rolls. Their tall speedsters have impressed the team owners. However, in the wake of the recent events — the tension at the border and the fierce opposition to Pakistan’s presence in the Hockey India League — the idea is bound to face resistance.