BCCI asks Kale to explain

The Disciplinary Committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India has decided to issue a show cause notice to Abhijit Kale, who is accused of trying to bribe his way into the Australia-bound Indian team.

The three-member committee, headed by BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya, will ask Kale to reply within 15 days.

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He further said the committee accordingly decided to "issue a show-cause notice to the cricketer".

The committee, which also included BCCI vice-presidents Kamal Morarka and Ranbir Singh Mahendra, deliberated on the issue for more than three hours before arriving at the decision to give Kale an opportunity to explain his conduct.

To a query, a member of the BCCI's legal team said Kale would be given 15 days' time to submit his reply.

The adviser said it is "difficult to say at this stage how many meetings would be held to decide the issue" as the Board would first await a reply from Kale.

Commenting on the court case filed by the cricketer, he said it is a different issue as the cricketer had filed the case challenging his suspension whereas the Disciplinary Committee is considering the overall charge against him.

Kale, a first class cricketer from Maharashtra, was accused by two national selectors, Kiran More of West Zone and Pranab Roy of East Zone, of offering them bribe of Rs 10 lakh [approximately $22,000] each for a berth in the Australia-bound Indian team.

On the basis of a written complaint by the selectors, the Board suspended Kale from the game and appointed Rao, chairman of the Bar Council of India, as Inquiry Commissioner to look into the matter.

The three-member Disciplinary Committee was constituted after Rao submitted his report on December 5 following a day-long hearing at Visakhapatnam on November 29, during which he heard Kale, More, Roy and also another national selector from Central Zone, Sanjay Jagdale.