Former chairman of selectors Chandu Borde slammed the Board of Control for Cricket in India for suspending Maharashtra batsman Abhijit Kale from playing first-class cricket without giving him a chance to prove his innocence in the bribery scandal.

Borde also termed BCCI's move to suspend Kale as "unprecedented" and "totally one-sided."

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"Unless Kale is proved guilty of charges made by the two selectors Kiran More and Pranab Roy, he cannot be punished," he said.

"Unfortunately the Board has punished him by suspending him from playing first-class matches that too just before the start of a new season without giving him a chance to prove his innocence."

He said that Kale should have been given a chance to present his side of the story before the BCCI.

"I fully agree with the Players' Association's stand that the BCCI should have called Kale for an enquiry, given him a chance to prove his innocence and even after that if they (Board) found him guilty then they should have taken action."

Borde said he was "shocked" when he came to know about the scandal from newspapers.

"I know Kale well. He is the main stay of the Maharashtra team and a very talented batsman. Infact I was so immpressed by his batting that I selected him for a couple of foreign tours with India-A team when I was the chairman of the selection committee.

"I was really shocked to read about the whole issue in the newspapers after I returned from abroad yesterday", Borde said.