NEW DELHI, MAY 20: It was another day of Bindra bashing at the Board of Control for Cricket in India's AGM. After telling newsmen what had transpired in today's `informal' meeting - repetition of what was announced yesterday - the president of the Board, AC Muthiah, said he believes cricket is a very clean game and an attempt is being made by a few people to tarnish its image. `You believe this even after the Hansie Cronje incident. Even after Mark Waugh and Shane Warne have admitted taking money from a bookie,'' he was asked almost in a chorus by the scores of scribes present. ``I think it is clean in India,'' was Muthiah's reply. Laughter all around, even Muthiah's stoic face registered a smile. There were many questions hurled at the Board president, who a number of times was caught groping for a `politically' correct answer. ``Why is only Bindra being targeted, what about those who made counter allegations against the former Board president?'' The answer:``We are taking cognisance of only those statements which are endangering the harmony of the Board.'' If that is so then isn't the allegation against Bindra that he offered bribes at the Jaipur meeting to a few members to purchase votes very serious? Don't you think this should be probed or the allegation that one TV company owner paid Bindra's bill at the same meeting be taken seriously or if these allegations are not true then those who have made them be also penalised? The answer:``In our wisdom these utterances do not endanger the harmony of the Board.'' The press conference meandered on with a bit of life getting injected into the routine session when Muthiah said that the Board will bear all the expenses of the players and officials who get involved in a legal battle while defending themselves. ``We will bear their expenses till they are not chargecheated,'' he said. ``Will the Board bear Dalmiya's expenses too for his legal battle against a London newspaper and two Indian magazines?'' Muthiah said: "If the request comes and if he (Dalmiya) is fighting those cases as a Board member then it will be considered.'' Dalmiya was quick to react, and immediately after the press conference told the newsmen that he would not ask the Board to bear the expenses of the cases he is fighting.
