Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 5 Num 599 Fri. February 03, 2006  
   
Sports


Jamil wants to find the truth


Chairman of Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis (CCDM) Khondokar Jamiluddin showed his concerns over media reports suggesting 'foul play' during Wednesday's Premier Cricket League match between DOHS and Bangladesh Biman.

The Biman batsmen were victims of 'biased' umpiring as they lost the match to DOHS although match referee Belayet Hossain found nothing unjust about the incidents.

"I have yet to receive the match referee's report but the media reports are a big concern," Jamiluddin told The Daily Star Sport over phone yesterday.

"I have already read what the match referee had said about the match. But I unless get the official report, I can not take any action. Everything depends on his reports and if it claims that the match was clean, what can I do?" asked the Bangladesh Cricket Control Board member.

"The ICC also has to depend on its match referees. However, I will not just sit and watch. I'll talk with concerned persons to find out what really happened."

When asked why top umpires or a more reputed match referee were not appointed for the game," Jamil said that his instructions had been clear on the issue.

"My instruction to the umpires' committee, who are responsible for appointing umpires and match referees, is to allot top umpires in important match. And only on the night before the match it is allowed to reveal names of the match officials. I will sit with the umpires' committee to discuss this because I always believe in being honest.

"Whatever the club or player, I have punished if found guilty. I have fined DOHS captain Akram Khan and Mohammedan Sporting Club although I am a member of the club. I could do that because I had reports. I can not personally go and watch every match. The match referee is responsible to report back of the incidents. I will try to check whether he has been dishonest or not, although it is out of my jurisdiction," said Jamil.

To find out the truth, the CCDM chairman can easily take help from video footage of the match.