Muthiah's clarification

CHENNAI, SEPT. 3. Mr. A.C. Muthiah, president, BCCI, clarified here on Saturday that the resting of the three players - Mohammed Azharuddin, Ajay Jadeja and Nikhil Chopra - for the ICC knock-out tournament in Kenya was purely on their lack of merits and it should not be misconstrued in any other manner.

Expressing surprise at the manner in which reactions are pouring in that these players have been dropped for their alleged involvement in match-fixing or betting, Mr. Muthiah said ``the Board's stand that it will not take any action on any player or official, unless they are proved guilty of charges will remain.''

He also stated that the Board has not received any direction in writing or otherwise from the Union Sports Ministry that these players should not be considered to play for the country.

Mr. Muthiah added that National Selection Committee chairman Mr. Chandu Borde's explanation should not be construed that it was because of the IT raids and investigation by the CBI, that these three players have been dropped.

He observed that the Board had never interfered with the selection process of teams, for tours or for matches in India. In this instance too, he said the Board had not given any directive to the selectors and this was also clarified by Borde at the press conference this afternoon.

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Section  : Sport
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