Decision harsh: MCA

The seven-month ban on Abhijit Kale by BCCI evoked a mixed reaction from Dnyaneshwar Agashe, the chairman of the Maharashtra Cricket Association MCA. Speaking to The Indian Express, Agahse said that the decision was 8216;8216;harsh8217;8217; but the MCA would adopt a wait-and-watch policy till the completion of his ban.

Agashe felt that since Kale has already lost enough time without even being proved guilty, another seven months was unnecessary. But in the same breath he added that it was necessary for MCA to decide whether the cricketer should actually be allowed to play the next year. 8216;8216;If he has really offered money to the selectors, then he has gone against the spirit of the game which is not permissible. We will sit and decide about our next course of action in our executive committee meeting soon,8217;8217; he said.

The Mumbai-based cricketer will technically be cleared to play all forms of cricket from January next. But MCA sources said that it would be virtually impossible for the cricketer to be a part of the team in the 2004-05 season.

Sources in the association said that there were many other things which would have to be considered before Kale could get back to playing normal first class cricket. For the starts, he will have to prove that he has been in touch with the game to get back into a strongly knit Maharashtra team.

Kale8217;s apology
		Following is the text of the letter written by Abhijit Kale to the disciplinary panel The entire episode has unnecessarily tarnished the image of the Board. I accept that it was wrong on my part to influence the selectors by approaching them directly and/or through my parents. With regard to the issue of offering money to the selectors, I wish to state that I was misunderstood and I assure you that I had no such intentions. I tender unqualified apology for my said acts. However, I assure you that I shall abide by any decision taken by the disciplinary committee in the matter. Since I have offered unconditional apology, I would be grateful if the matter is closed.