Indian cricket clean: Muthiah

NEW DELHI, MAY 20. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president, Mr. A. C. Muthiah, today gave a clean chit to the game in the country, saying, ``I don't believe there is any match-fixing.''

Asked to comment on whether there was any substance in the allegations of corruption flying thick and fast against players and administrators, he said it was more an attempt to settle personal scores.

``I think cricket is clean. It's being unnecessarily tarnished. People are only using this (the game) as a forum to settle personal scores,'' he told reporters after a BCCI meeting to discuss the betting and match-fixing controversy.

Asked how he could make such a categorical statement when the former South African cricket team skipper, Hansie Cronje, had admitted to taking bribe from a bookie, Dr. Muthiah would only say ``no Indian player has confessed''.

To a question why the BCCI had not taken note of the several allegations being made, Dr. Muthiah said the Board had no investigative powers and that even drawing up contracts with players had in the past been struck down by the Supreme Court.

- PTI

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