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Bindra says all teams and players are involved in match-fixing

The match-fixing controversy today turned into a virtual mudslinging affair within the Indian cricket establishment, with former BCCI president I S Bindra charging players, officials and administrators with discrediting the game, and accusing ICC president Jagmohan Dalmiya of being under the ''grip of the mafia and sharks''.

During an emotional outburst at a press conference, Bindra, who is also the president of the Punjab Cricket Association, alleged that all teams and players who play at the international level are involved in match-fixing in someway or the other.

''Match-fixing or betting is as old as the game itself,'' he declared.

''I am convinced that players of every single team which is playing international cricket are involved in match-fixing or betting in some way or the other.

''I am privy to certain information which even Dalmiya doesn't have access... He (Dalmiya) is in the total grip of the mafia and sharks,'' Bindra claimed.

''Hansie (Cronje) is a small fish. There are still many sharks,'' he said, adding ''Hansie has emerged as the biggest hero (in the world of cricket). He will save the game.''

In the same vein, Bindra said if Dalmiya makes a confession like Hansie had done, ''he will be a greater hero.''

At the outset, Bindra said he is upset at not being invited to the meeting of the top brass of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which was held in Calcutta yesterday, where Dalmiya was also present. He said, as the PCA president he was entitled to be called for the meeting which was convened to take stock of the situation arising out of the recent match-fixing scandal involving South African skipper Hansie Cronje and three of his teammates.

After the controversy hit the headlines, Bindra, during his interaction with the media, had said that he had reprimanded certain players for 'malpractices'. To which BCCI president A C Muthiah, at yesterday's meeting, said Bindra's statements are defamatory.

To a pointed question whether cricket board officials in India or abroad were also involved, the former BCCI president did not come up with a direct answer.

''I am ready to take names, but the responsibility for a defamation will be yours,'' he told the journalist.

Later, he referred to senior BCCI functionary P M Rungta on a couple of occasions, but did not specify the context in which he was taking his (Rungta's) name.

In a two-page statement, Bindra said, ''During my presidency of the Indian board... I did come to know that malpractices were on. I made my best efforts at every possible level to effectively arrest and check misdoing by players, officials and administrators who have today discredited the game and the boards.''

The statement said: ''The credibility of the boards of several countries are in mire and is slushed in total distrust for their failure to effectively curb the grievous violation of the rules of the noble and sacred game, sacrificing it at the alter of greed.''

Bindra called upon the BCCI and International Cricket Council (ICC) to maintain transparency and make themselves accountable.

''Total transparency and willingness to expose oneself for accountability is the need of the hour for the board officials and the same also applies to ICC officials.''

Bindra said he is ready to cooperate with police, government and all intelligence agencies in any investigations into alleged match-fixing.

In his statement, he also commented on the functioning of the BCCI, saying the Indian board must continue to be managed by its democratically elected representatives to restore ts glory and honour.

Bindra said he is strong believer in the ethical approach and is totally committed to cricket in general and Indian cricket and the Indian board in particular.

He said he would not make any statement on the issue of match-fixing till May 2, when the ICC is scheduled to hold a meeting in London to discuss the issue.

Meanwhile, Parliamentary Affairs minister Pramod Mahajan announced that Minister of State for Sports Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa will make a statement tomorrow in parliament on the alleged match-fixing controversy.

Concern was expressed by members of both houses today over the reported involvement of several prominent cricketers of India, South Africa, Pakistan and some other countries in match-fixing.

Mahajan's information came during zero hour in the Lok Sabha following a demand by Kamal Nath (Congress) for an enquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation. Mr Nath said the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) should be taken over temporarily by the government.

Prof Vijay Kumar Malhotra of the BJP supported the demand for an enquiry by the CBI but opposed the plea for government takeover of any body associated with sports.

UNI