Asians will not boycott ICC Cup — BCCI

The source was reacting to a report in a cricket website that these four Asian Test-playing countries have decided to boycott the October 3-15 ICC Knock-out Cup at Nairobi as the world governing body had not yet replied to their demand. “We are the driving force for the generation of this fund and were getting only 30 per cent from it while the others were getting 70 per cent. That is why we had demanded 50 per cent share”, he explained.

“Without the four Asian countries the ICC tournament would lose its lustre. But we are sure the matter would be resolved soon”, he added.

Shastri deposes before CBI
NEW DELHI: Ravi Shastri, who is the lone person to have corroborated Manoj Prabhakar’s charge of offer of bribery against Kapil Dev, has recorded his statement to CBI in the match-fixing scandal, agency sources said here on Monday.

The sources said Shastri deposed before the agency’s Special Crime Branch and was questioned by them recently for nearly an hour. His deposition was needed as he had given an interview on a website, which was clandestinely shot by former all-rounder Manoj Prabhakar.

Shastri, had corroborated Prabhakar’s claim that he had been briefed about Kapil’s alleged offer of a bribe of Rs 25 lakh to Prabhakar to underperform in a One-Dayer during the 1994 triangular in Sri Lanka.

Shastri had reportedly told a website immediately after Prabhakar went public with his allegation that he was approached by Prabhakar and was briefed about the alleged offer for under-performing in the match. However, the agency refused to divulge whether the former captain had again corroborated the statement made in London.

CBI might also examine Sunil Gavaskar as he too is on the portal, the sources said.

Kapil keeps mum
NEW DELHI: National Coach Kapil Dev on Monday chose to remain mum over the deliberations of the BCCI’s Working Committee at which his recent critical utterances were discussed.

Kapil Dev had gone on record last week criticising the Board’s functioning and expressed his desire to quit the game saying the match-fixing charges and the “unprofessional attitude” of cricket officials had put him off the game.

When contacted here, Kapil refused to comment saying he was yet to hear from the Board or its president. “I cannot go just by media reports,” he said. (PTI)