Kale banned till year-end
Thursday, June 3 2004
Maharashtra batsman Abhijeet Kale has been banned from playing all forms of cricket till December 31, 2004, for trying to bribe the national selectors last year for a possible inclusion in the Indian team.
Kale, a prolific scorer in domestic competitions, escaped what could have been a major punishment after the three-member disciplinary committee set up by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) failed to gather enough evidence on him.
Justifying the lenient ban, BCCI chief Jagmohan Dalmiya said, "Kale has accepted the charges and given an unconditional apology letter, so he is not being given a severe punishment."
In the letter sent to the BCCI earlier this week, Kale said, "The entire episode has unnecessarily tarnished the image of the Board. I accept that it was wrong on my part to influence the selectors by approaching them directly or through my parents. With regard to the issue of offering money to the selectors, I wish to state that I was misunderstood and I assure you that I had no such intention. I tender unqualified apology for my said act."
Kale had been accused last year by national selectors Kiran More and Pranab Roy of trying to influence them to include him in the Indian squad by means of a bribe. Following a report by the two selectors, he was suspended last November.
Kale, who averages over 58 in domestic cricket, will effectively miss only two or three Ranji Trophy games at the most, as the Indian season doesn't start until November.
Posted by Sudeep
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