Three cricketers likely to be stripped of award

NEW DELHI, DEC. 22. The Government today said it was considering withdrawal of Arjuna awards conferred on three cricketers - Mohammad Azharuddin, Ajay Jadeja and Manoj Prabhakar - and had given them 15 days' time to state their position as they have been accused in the match-fixing.

``We have written to these three players for their stand and will take necessary action regarding withdrawal of the Arjuna awards,'' the Union Sports Minister, Ms. Uma Bharati, said replying to supplementaries in the Rajya Sabha during question hour.

On whether any official of the Cricket Board was involved in the match-fixing, the Minister said the CBI had investigated the scandal in all possible angles and ``there doesn't seem to be anything to suggest the role of BCCI authorities in match- fixing''.

She said her Ministry had written to the Law Ministry to know what action could be taken against those involved in the match- fixing.

Ms. Bharti said the Government could consider bringing forth a new legislation to deal with such crimes as currently there was no specific law under which the players could be charged. According to the Law Ministry, it was not possible to book the accused players under the Gambling Act as it fell under the jurisdiction of State Governments.

- PTI

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Front Page
Previous : Military launches attack on Jaffna
Next     : 16 killed in Assam