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King non-committal on summoning Azhar

Justice Edwin King, the one-man commission probing match-fixing allegations in South Africa, yesterday remained non-committal on whether he would summon Mohammad Azharuddin to depose before him and voiced hope that he would get authentic transcripts of the tape containing Hansie Cronje's conversation with a bookie.

"Well I certainly enjoy watching Azharuddin bat, I don't know. I wouldn't like to single out individuals who might or might not be able to assist the commission," he told Star TV when asked whether Azharuddin would be called as a witness.

Asked in what way he would like the Indian Government to lend support, King said his jurisdiction was limited to South Africa and its people. "If there are people in the cricketing world in India who could give me information that is relevant, I would appreciate it very much."

On the issue of Cronje's conversation with a bookie recorded by the Delhi Police, King said Cronje's legal team has challenged the authenticity of the tapes.

He said that to ensure that the hearing was fair, it would be important for the commission to have an authenticated transcript of the tape.

"So to that extent it is very important that the non-availability is posing a problem and a lot of measures have been made at the diplomatic and other levels. I remain hopeful that I will get the authentic transcripts of the tape."

PTI