Hussain calls for action against Kapil

Minister of State for Sports Shahnawaz Hussain on Sunday said the Board of Control for Cricket in India should take action with regard to coach Kapil Dev similar to the one taken against Mohammad Azharuddin, Ajay Jadeja and Nikhil Chopra. The latter were dropped from the list of probables for the Nairobi International Cricket Council Knockout tournament.

"A similar action against Kapil Dev will send out a good message," Hussain said in New Delhi when asked to comment on the exclusion of the three players from the list of probables for next month's Kenya tour. "It is not that government is pressurising the BCCI. However, it is answerable both to the Parliament and people," he added.

Sports Minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa welcomed the dropping of the three players saying, "It's a very good thing (dropping of the three players) that BCCI has done. It will give new players a chance. The juniors are good and talented and, by giving them a chance, their potential can be judged," Dhindsa said.

Asked whether he will ask BCCI to take similar action against Kapil Dev, Dhindsa said government would not interfere in the functioning of the BCCI but reiterated his earlier suggestion that all tainted players should go out of the team till their names are cleared of match-fixing charges.

"BCCI action is a corollary to my suggestion and it will do a lot of good to Indian sport, especially cricket," he said.

EARLIER REPORT
Azhar, Jadeja axed; Kapil in limbo

Mail Cricket Editor