The Hindu : Pune court accepts Kale's petition

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 26, 2003

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Pune court accepts Kale's petition

MUMBAI Nov. 25. Abhijit Kale remained on collision course with state and national cricket authorities even as the Pune Civil Court accepted the Maharashtra batsman's petition on Tuesday, challenging his suspension from playing first-class cricket and fixed November 27, 2003 as the date for hearing.

The former India `A' batsman, alongwith lawyer Manoj Wadekar appeared in court, along with lawyers representing the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) whose request for time to formulate replies to Kale's petition was accepted.

It is learnt that Kale's lawyer Wadekar put forward the argument that the Maharashtra batsman had been suspended merely on allegations of bribing two selectors without even a show-cause notice from either BCCI or its affiliate MCA. Both organisations have been made respondents in the case.

In a related development, the MCA chairman Balasaheb Thorve has publicly stated that Kale's decision to move court and make the state unit a party to the case has forced a change of position. MCA will not back him any more, a shift in stand a day later after airing its view of the player's innocence on Monday.

Explaining the MCA position, Thorve is supposed to have stated in Pune after Tuesday's court's acceptance of the petition that "Kale has lost our support and sympathy. Whatever the consequence, he will have to face it himself. The MCA backed him earlier because he was suspended merely on the basis of allegation without being given an opportunity to present his side."

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