Mudgal committee to decide on extension Aug 27

The Mukul Mudgal committee Wednesday rubbished media reports of its members interrogating International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman N. Srinivasan and his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan in Chennai and said it will meet Aug 27 to decide whether to seek more time from the Supreme Court to submit its report on the spot fixing and betting scandal that hit the 2013 Indian Premier League (IPL).

The Supreme Court, while setting up the committee in May, had asked the panel to submit its findings by the end of August. Justice (retd.) Mudgal told IANS that the committee would decide next week if it needs more time to file the report.

"We will meet Aug 27 to decide whether we need more time. Accordingly, we would seek an extension from the Supreme Court to submit the report," Mudgal said, adding that the committee has no intention to interrogate any Indian cricketer in England since it may disturb the struggling team's concentration.

The committee, that met Aug 15-16 in Chennai and interacted with its investigative team and other authorities, also released a statement rubbishing certain media reports.

"The committee would like to clarify that neither the Committee nor its members interacted with Mr. Srinivasan or Mr. Meiyappan on 15-16 August 2014 in Chennai or at any other time during the second leg of its investigation ordered by the Hon'ble Supreme Court on 16.5.2014," the statement said.

"The committee or any of its members also have no intention of travelling outside the country for any interaction with the players, contrary to some speculations in the media. The committee is fully alive of the fact that any interaction with the players during a series may disturb their poise and concentration."