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Thursday, Oct 19, 2006
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Azharuddin issue: BCCI criticises Speed

Special Correspondent

JAIPUR : There is good news for former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin.

The BCCI has criticised ICC CEO Malcolm Speed for his statement here that it would be a grave mistake to "talk of Azhar's case and that of others in the same breath" as highly disappointing, if not outrageous.

Board's Chief Administrative Officer Prof. Ratnakar Shetty, in a statement, said: "His assertion that Shane Warne and Herschelle Gibbs had already been fined and suspended by their respective cricket Boards and that their cases cannot be compared with that of Azharuddin who had been banned for life by the Indian Board sounds bizarre.

"Azhar should not be compared with those who got away with murder, people who continued to play after serving a token punishment even after they had admitted that they had taken cash to under-perform and those who unabashedly said they accepted money from bookies.

"It is no secret that the ICC and some Boards have gone out of their way to help cricketers who have been as much guilty as Azhar, but did not show the same consideration for the former Indian captain just because the Indian Board tried to be holier, " he added.

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