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Kale's career shouldn't end: Roy

December 06, 2003 15:31 IST

National selector Pranab Roy, who has accused Abhijit Kale of trying to bribe him, does not want the Maharashtra cricketer's career to come to an abrupt end because of the allegation.

Roy said the Board of Control or Cricket in India should hand Kale such punishment that will deter others from repeating his mistake.

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"As a former cricketer, however, I'll say his career shouldn't come to an end," said Roy, who is recuperating from fever at his Kolkata residence.

The selector from East zone and his counterpart from the West, Kiran More, accused Kale, the 30-year-old middle-order batsman, of offering them Rs 10 lakh [approximately $22,000] each to get him a place in the Indian team for the tour of Australia.

The BCCI on being informed by the selectors about the offer placed Kale under suspension pending an inquiry.

Kale, who has denied the bribery charge, moved court to start playing domestic cricket again.

Roy said: "I feel good that it is becoming clear my allegation wasn't unfounded. Those who doubted us must have realized that."

Several former cricketers and even India captain Sourav Ganguly had expressed doubts that Kale, known as a quiet and friendly guy, could offer inducements to get selected.

The BCCI set up a one-man inquiry panel to look into Roy and More's charges. The D V Subba Rao commission, which submitted its report to BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya on Thursday, is believed to have held Kale prima facie guilty.

A three-member disciplinary committee, headed by Dalmiya, will discuss Rao's report and decide appropriate punishment for Kale, who played a limited overs match for India in Bangladesh this year.

M. Chhaya in Kolkata