Dalmiya in the grip of mafias — Bindra

“I am convinced that players of every single team which is playing international cricket are involved in match-fixing or betting in some way or the other.”

“I am privy to certain informations to which even Dalmiya doesn’t have access…He (Dalmiya) is in the total grip of mafia and sharks,” Bindra claimed.

“Hansie (Cronje) is a small fish. There are still many sharks,” he said, adding, “Hansie has emerged as the biggest hero (in the world of cricket). He will save the game.”

In the same vein, Bindra said if Dalmiya makes a confession like Hansie had done, “he will be a greater hero.”

At the outset, Bindra said he was upset at not being invited to the meeting of the top brass of the Board of Control for Cricket in India held in Calcutta yesterday where Dalmiya was also present. He said as the pca president he was entitled to be called for the meeting which was convened to take stock of the situation arising out of the recent match-fixing scandal involving South African skipper Hansie Cronje and three of his teammates.

After the controversy hit the headlines, Bindra, during his interaction with the media, had said that he had reprimanded certain players for `malpractices’. BCCI president A C Muthiah, during yesterday’s meeting, described Bindra’s recent statements as defamatory in nature.

Bindra shot back saying it was unfortunate that a section of the people have imputed motives to his statements and accused him of wanting to settle account at the cost of cricket by bringing Indian board into ignominy.

To a pointed question whether cricket board officials in India or abroad were also involved, the former BCCI president did not come up with a direct answer. “I am ready to take names, but the responsibility for a defamation will be yours,” he told the journalist.

Later, he referred to senior BCCI functionary P M Rungta on a couple of occasions, but did not specify the context in which he was taking his (Rungta’s) name.

In a two-page statement, Bindra said, “During my presidency of Indian board… I did come to know that malpractices were on. I made my best efforts at every possible level to effectively arrest and check misdoings by players, officials and administrators who have today discredited the game and the boards.”

The statement said, “The credibility of the boards of several countries are in mire and is slushed in total distrust for their failure to effectively curb the grievous violation of the rules of the noble and sacred game, sacrificing it at the altar of greed.”

Bindra called upon the BCCI and International Cricket Council (ICC) to maintain transparency and made themselves accountable. “Total transparency and willingness to expose oneself for accountability is the need of the hour for the board officials and the same also applies to ICC officials.”

Bindra said he was ready to cooperate with police, government and all intelligence agencies in any investigations into alleged match-fixing.

In his statement, Bindra also commented on the functioning of the BCCI. The Indian board must continue to be managed by its democratically elected representatives the manner as would restore its glory and honour.

Bindra said he was strong believer in the ethical approach and was totally committed to cricket in general and Indian cricket and Indian board in particular.

He said he would not make any statement on the issue of match-fixing till may two, when the ICC is scheduled to hold a meeting in London to discuss the issue.