Bindra says he'll accept disciplinary committee decision

Former Board of Control for Cricket in India president I S Bindra, who appeared before the BCCI disciplinary committee on Thursday, to explain a show-cause notice, said he has full faith in the committee headed by BCCI president A C Muthiah and will accept its decision.

Bindra said his statements on the BCCI functioning, which invited the show-cause notice, were in his personal capacity and not intended to denigrate the board.

"I have been a member of the board for 25 years and also president for three years. I will not do anything that would denigrate the board.

"I had, in my individual capacity, made certain statements earlier but I have maintained and respected Mr Muthiah's appeal that no board member should talk to the press on any issue that would affect the working of the board.

"I have not spoken about the board to anyone for the last nine months," he added.

Bindra, looking relieved after his one hour 20 minute depositon before the committee, praised Muthiah for his "commendable" work, saying he himself could not take such decisions when he was president.

"Muthiah's work for the last eight months has been commendable.

"All of us respect Mr Muthiah's decision in respect of punishments to the players and his efforts to cleanse the game and we will do everything to strengthen Mr Muthiah's hands."

Meanwhile, Muthiah indicated that BCCI's anti-corruption commissioner K Madhavan is likely to summon some more people, including players, to appear before him in connection with the match-fixing inquiry.

Muthiah told reporters after the disciplinary committee meeting that there are still some 'grey areas' remaining, both in the inquiry into match-fixing, based on CBI report, and the Ahmedabad Test against New Zealand in 1999, where India did not impose a follow-on despite being in a position to do so.

"Madhavan wants to have some more people summoned as there are some grey areas, and since a follow up is to be done in both the cases, Madhavan would submit his report before January 31," Muthiah said. He added that the working committee would meet in February to take a decision on this.

Madhavan had recently examined former captains and coaches Ajit Wadekar and Kapil Dev in New Delhi.

Related reports:

Bindra submits 360-page report to CBI
Bindra lashes out at Rungta, Morarka

Mail Cricket Editor