The Hyderabad Cricket Association has decided to seek an explanation from former first-class cricketer Vanka Pratap on his allegation that a selector had sought a bribe from him through a mediator some years ago.
The HCA executive committee held an emergency meeting to discuss the issue on Monday morning.
Briefing reporters later, HCA president M Ranga Reddy said, "We are asking for an explanation from Vanka Pratap within three days. The explanation from him will be sent to the disciplinary committee of the HCA headed by C V Anand. If he does not give a reply to our notice within three days, legal action will be initiated."
The HCA took note of media reports quoting Pratap as saying that he had been asked by selectors to pay for a place in the team.
Pratap told the Sahara Samay television news channel, "I had been approached, but I did not bother. Someone approached me on behalf of the selectors. I would not like to name the selector, but everybody in the Hyderabad Cricket Association knows who he is."
Pratap had also cited the example of Hyderabad off-spinner Noel David, who was picked ahead of veteran Kanwaljit Singh for the 1996-97 India tour of the West Indies. "Noel was not even sure of a place in the Hyderabad team, but he was picked for the Indian team," Pratap was quoted as saying.
In his ten-year career that ended two seasons ago, Pratap played 83 first-class matches and scored 3,957 runs at an average of 36.30. His highest domestic score was 136 and he hit six centuries and 27 half-centuries. He also played for India A against the West Indies in 1998-99.
