Hyderabad, June 26: Cricket board today informed a city civil court that though the decision to hold preliminary inquiry into match-fixing allegations against former Captain Mohammed Azharuddin was based on newspaper reports, regular inquiry was based on the findings of preliminary inquiry. "Though newspaper reports cannot be relied upon in matters of this nature, they cannot also be brushed aside as insignificant in view of the fact that they create awareness among the people and sometimes suspicion too," BCCI counsel informed second additional chief judge, hearing the suit filed by Azharuddin challenging his life ban from cricket. Stating that "a widespread Malafide Campaign was unleashed against BCCI for its failure to maintain the dignity of test cricket", The counsel said the board being the custodian of developing healthy cricket culture could not brush aside the allegations.

"It is an issue of wide public interest and hence BCCI was compelled to order a preliminary inquiry," he said. Pointing out that every attempt was made to afford Azharuddin a fair opportunity to buttress his point of view, the counsel said the former captain chose to attribute malice and prejudice to both the inquiry officer as well as BCCI when the result was not in his favour.

The counsel was responding to a judge's query regarding the basis for holding inquiry into match-fixing allegations against the former captain and whether any written complaints were received by BCCI for ordering the inquiry.
Bureau Report