I spoke to clear the truth — Yadav

But Yadav’s alleged statement at a press meet on Tuesday night seems to stir a hornet’s nest.

Clarifying to The Indian Express here today, Shivlal Yadav said: “I spoke nothing out of context. Since the question was raised I had to say something about the issue. We normally do not speak to the press but I had to do so to clear the truth. I stress I’ve said nothing wrong. In fact, I said that captaincy issue was never discussed at the Calcutta meeting.”

Shivlal Yadav went on to add, “I am clear in my thoughts and I shall explain to Lele in our next meeting slated for March 15.”

The Indian cricket board president Raj Singh Dungarpur was also not happywith Yadav on the same issue.

“That’s not the practice. Only the chairman of the selection committee speaks to the press and not any other selector,” he said.

“I have spoken to the secretary (on the issue) and he has told me that he would have a word with him (Yadav) on March 15.”

Interestingly, Dungarpur himself had come out in defence of Azharuddin a few days ago.

Clarifying his position in Mumbai today, Dungarpur said that he was not making a policy statement on the national captaincy issue but was only answering a query when approached over the speculations that Mohammed Azharuddin may not be retained as skipper.

“There were lot of speculations about Azhar not being retained as captain. I was only answering a query when approached on this issue and was not making a policy statement. It is not my job,” the board chief clarified.

“I clarified the position. I said I find no reason for him to be removed at this stage,” he added.

The board chief also said that the matter (of offeringcaptaincy to Tendulkar) was never discussed at Calcutta. “To the best of my knowledge the chairman of the selection committee (Ajit Wadekar) had offered the vice-captaincy, a mandatory requirement when India is playing abroad, to Tendulkar which he declined,” Dungarpur said.