Punish Chappell: CAB

The Cricket Association of Bengal CAB is all set to take up the issue of Greg Chappell8217;s comments against Sourav Ganguly in a British...

The Cricket Association of Bengal CAB is all set to take up the issue of Greg Chappell8217;s comments against Sourav Ganguly in a British daily seriously, and appeal to the Board to severely punish Chappell.

The CAB believes the BCCI8217;s reaction as 8220;mild advice8221; to Chappell, and CAB president Jagmohan Dalmiya wants stringent action. That, if one were to go by the CAB8217;s argument, ranges from 8220;severe reprimand, to a fine of Rs 1 lakh, to suspension as coach8221;.

Dalmiya argued that according to BCCI regulations for players and officials adopted back in 2000 this is different from the Code of Conduct, Chappell8217;s outburst against Ganguly deserves punishment that should be stricter than secretary Niranjan Shah8217;s 8220;official mild advice8221;.

Interestingly, while the CAB is seeing this latest incident as Chappell8217;s violation of the BCCI rulebook 8212; another being the finger-pointing issue at the India-South Africa Eden Gardens ODI 8212; questions now keep cropping up on why Dalmiya didn8217;t take a similar stance then.

8220;For the finger incident, we weren8217;t in power,8221; Dalmiya said when asked what made the CAB suddenly take up the matter seriously. Interestingly, no probe had really taken place since last November8217;s infamous e-mail leak, and today8217;s development can8217;t help but make people feel that the ongoing Chappell-Ganguly storm is taking the attention away from the BCCI-Dalmiya tussle. 8220;Right now, Sourav is more important for us,8221; Dalmiya thundered. 8220;This isn8217;t a freak incident. This isn8217;t the first time that Chappell has attacked Sourav before the press. Hence, we ask the BCCI8217;s disciplinary body to take action against Chappell going by the 2000 Regulations book,8221; the former BCCI boss said.

The CAB, which will rush a 8220;formal intimation8221; to the Board by tomorrow, is highlighting Clause 3.9.2 of the Regulations, which says that no team official Chappell, in this case can comment on a player read Ganguly until his retirement.

The CAB may seek punishment, but given that there aren8217;t any penalties laid down in the BCCI8217;s rulebooks, discretion would be with the Board to decide whether at all such a violation of the 2000 Regulations compulsorily attracts punishment.

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Meanwhile, former skipper Kapil Dev indicated on a news channel today that Sourav should move away from this atmosphere and retire honourably. It adds fuel to the issue and also shows how desperate the situation of the ex-skipper is today.