Dungarpur to issue statement on Srikkanth's allegations

Mumbai, Apr 10 (UNI) Former President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Raj Singh Dunagrpur today said he would issue a statement to clear the air following the allegations made by former India captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth that he had targeted the senior cricketers before Indo-Pak series in 1989.

''He has given me an easy catch,'' Dungapur told UNI, hinting he had the answer to silence Srikkanth and said he would give a detailed statement after gathering facts.

''Sooner or later I will clarify the happenings. I have got all the facts and will issue a statement after putting them together,'' Dungarpur said.

Earlier, commenting on BCCI's recent scrapping of the graded payment to players, Srikkanth recalled a similar row in 1989 when most of the senior players, demanding graded payment, had threatened to boycott the Pakistan tour.

According to Srikkanth, Dungarpur, then the chief selector, promised him a new team and the board's backing provided he dumped his senior teammates.

Srikkanth said he did not bow to the pressure and paid heavily as he was not only stripped of captaincy but also dropped from the squad soon after returning from Pakistan, after managing a creditable draw there.

Srikkanth admitted he did not score enough in that tour but felt the episode marked the beginning of the end of his career.

UNI