BCCI stays firm on its stand on Sports Bill

New Delhi: Reiterating its stand on the contentious Sports Bill, the BCCI said that until and unless its reservations were addressed by the Sports Ministry, the bill was not acceptable to them even in the revised form.

BCCI member and IPL governing council chairman Rajeev Shukla made it clear that the board had rejected the bill at its Working Committee meeting in Kolkata on October 29, and had shot off a letter to the Sports Ministry, conveying their strong reservations on various aspects of the controversial bill.

"The BCCI's Working Committee has raised objections to certain provisions of the bill during its Working Committee meeting in Kolkata. We have given our point of view to the ministry and now request them to address these issues," Shukla told reporters outside the Parliament on Thursday.

"Now it is up to the Cabinet to take a decision on the bill."

Asked whether the BCCI was shying from accountability by opposing the bill, Shukla said, "As far as accountability is concerned, the BCCI has always maintained its accountability. We conduct regular audits of our accounts during every AGM. We also respond to questions, if any arises in Parliament."

He also dismissed speculation that the recently-held Ranji Trophy Plate division match between Goa and Maharashtra might have been fixed. Needing 130 runs in 19 overs to win the game, Goa stand-in-skipper Swapnil Asnodkar threw in the towel.

"The BCCI has not come to know of any match-fixing. There are no cases of match-fixing here as we have adopted strict measures to curb the menace. All the Indian players are clean," Shukla said.