BCCI rejects probe into Kambli's claims

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IBNS) The Indian cricket board on Saturday rejected Union Sports Minister Ajay Maken's request for a thorough probe saying match-fixing claims made by former cricketer Vinod Kambli are not worth investigating.

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) vice-president Rajiv Shukla said Kambli´s claims are not worth investigating.

"We are not giving any importance to the claims made by Kambli. If a person wakes up after 15 years and makes some allegations, that is not worth taking note of," Shukla told reporters.

Shukla, now a chairman of the IPL Governing Council, said the BCCI has acted tough on corrupt cricketers.

"Many of the boards have forgiven players after they were found to be involved in corrupt practices but BCCI has never forgiven such players," he said.

Maken, however, said that if the BCCI doesn´t take any step the ministry would initiate an enquiry.

Maken on Saturday called for a thorough investigations and said if the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) doesn´t initiate any enquiry his office would step in to find the truth behind the match-fixing claims made by former India cricketer Vinod Kambli.

"When a player of the Indian cricket team has made a charge, it should be thoroughly investigated. People of the country have the right to know what exactly happened during the match at the Eden Gardens. Whether the accusations made by the player are true or false, the people have the right to know," Maken told reporters here.

"So, it should be properly investigated and if something wrong has happened then the culprits should be punished," he said.

Kambli had alleged that the 1996 World Cup semi-final between India and Sri Lanka was fixed. Former captain Mohammad Azharuddin, who led the team in 1996, has rubbished the charges and has been backed his former team mates Sanjay Manjerekar, Nayan Mongia, Venkatpathy Raju and then team manager Ajit Wadekar.

Maken said it was high time for BCCI to conduct a probe.

"As you know, the BCCI has not come to the sports ministry for any recognition so far but I would want, whatever agency is there, BCCI should order a probe into it. If the BCCI doesn´t conduct a probe, we will look at it," he said.