Denness issue being stretched
too far: Wadekar

Former India cricket captain Ajit Wadekar has expressed displeasure over the manner in which the Mike Denness controversy is being pursued, and said "it would be unfortunate" if it leads to a split in the International Cricket Council.

"I think some amicable solution could have been found," Wadekar, also a former manager of the Indian team, said on Monday, after a function at the Mumbai Press Club.

During the second Test between India and South Africa last year, Denness, who was the match referee, had imposed penalties on six Indian players, including skipper Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India had flayed his conduct and demanded a probe. After much confabulation, the ICC agreed to order one, but a dispute over the constitution of the probe panel arose.

Wadekar said the 'split' in the ICC, if "at all it comes, will be very unfortunate and harm the game".

Referring to Asia's cricket chiefs launching a scathing attack on the world governing body, at a meeting at Sharjah, on February 17, Wadekar said, "The split, if it comes, will be because of some ego clash." He did not elaborate.

"To me, it appears to be a personal issue," he said, adding, the penalty slapped on the Indian mainstay players during the South Africa tour was 'unjustified'.

"Instead of carrying on about the Denness issue," Wadekar, a former chairman of the selection panel, said, "we have to concentrate on improving the rating of our national side."

Mail Cricket Editor