NEW DELHI, Aug 2: The Indian cricket board has objected to Delhi High Court order allowing all-rounder Ajay Jadeja to play all domestic cricket matches, saying it amounted to “virtually” lifting the ban imposed on the cricketer in the wake of allegation of match-fixing against him.

“It amounts to virtually lifting the ban on Ajay Jadeja,” BCCI counsel Kapil Sibal told a Division Bench of Justice B A Khan and Justice O P Dwivedi, which had on May 28 last passed an ex-parte interim order in favour of Jadeja.

He pointed out that Justice J K Mehra Award setting aside five-year ban imposed on Jadeja has been challenged and the same was pending before a Single Judge Bench of the High Court.

However, the court refused to pass any orders and said May 28 order would continue. Expressing the hope that challenge to the Award would be decided within a month, the court posted the matter for Sept 3.

The court allowed Jadeja to play in domestice cricket as objections to the award might take undue time to be decided rendering him unfit for any form of national and international cricket.

BCCI’s objections to the award are being heard by Justice Manmohan Sarin who would further hear the case on Aug 7.—PPI