NEW DELHI, Nov 22: India’s cricket board was slammed on Saturday for suspending a player who allegedly offered bribes to get into the national team, as a senior sports official demanded an inquiry also against the selectors who made the charges.

The scandal is the biggest to hit the Indian team in years.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Friday suspended Abhijit Kale as it probes allegations that he offered bribes to two selectors _ Kiran More and Pranab Roy _ to be part of the national team for the current tour of Australia. Kale has denied the allegation.

Chief selector Syed Kirmani said he had not heard about the bribe offer until he read about it in a newspaper on Friday.

BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya said that “More said he was approached in an unethical manner, which could be an unhealthy precedent, while Roy said he was offered a bribe of Rupees 1million (US$22,000).”

He said More’s report did not quote a figure. But the decision to suspend Kale was attacked by several prominent Indian cricket identities.

“It’s not correct. Nobody should take away a person’s right to represent until proven guilty,” said former Test captain Dilip Vengsarkar.

Madhav Mantri, a former selector and Test player, asserted that Kale “should not have been suspended ... I think it’s very unfair on the player.”

Jaywant Lele, a former secretary of the cricket board, also criticized Kale’s suspension.

“The allegations need to be proved first, nothing like this should have been done,” said Lele.

The most severe criticism came from Test cricketer Narendra Hirwani, who has not figured in the national side for several years, but finished as the top wicket-taker in domestic cricket last season.

“Indian cricket selectors are the most prejudiced lot,” Hirwani told The Hindustan Times. “They just believe in achieving their ends and can go to any extent.”

On Saturday, the Maharashtra Cricket Association, for whom Kale is a prolific scorer in domestic cricket, said the probe should not be one-sided.

The Maharashtra association summoned Kale back to its headquarters in Pune, to give his version before its disciplinary panel.

Thorve said he was writing to Dalmiya, who has said the inquiry will take at least 15 days.—APP/AP