New Delhi, April 16: The United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA) appears to have realized that it could not afford to ignore, let alone antagonize, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

The change in its attitude is almost entirely due to BCCI Secretary Jaywant Lele’ strong reactions to the statements attributed to UCBSA that India was the hotbed of corruption in cricket.

UCBSA Managing Director Ali Bacher and spokeswoman Ms Wilkinson spoke to BCCI President AC Muthiah and Secretary Jaywant Lele last night and said that they had not forgotten BCCI’s role in South Africa's return to the international fold in 1991. They also promised to co-operate with Delhi Police and BCCI and said UCBSA would never strain its relationship with BCCI.

Lele is said to have asked the South Africans to desist from making statements that such illegal acts as bribery happen only in sub-continent. Lele said history would prove him right as no Indian player or official had ever been named. The BCCI would severely object such statements by UCBSA in its meeting with ICC, Lele is said to have told the South Africans.

Many, including bigwigs in the Board, feared Lele would shoot his mouth off and perhaps even announce the re-opening of the Chandrachud Inquiry into the allegations made by former allrounder Manoj Prabhakar. Instead, they have been pleasantly surprised when he dashed off a strong message to UCBSA.

The Board President has already indicated that the Chandrachud Inquiry was merely an in-house inquiry and that he would have no hesitation in handing over to an independent investigating agency. It may have set the alarm bells ringing in high places and led to influential Board members working towards ensuring that the Chandrachud Inquiry is not reopened.

Curiously, Cronje gate has thrown up an interesting sideshow in BCCI. The ruling group has squirmed at the sight of former Board President IS Bindra coming out with all guns firing. He has made so many TV appearances, owning up responsibility for conceiving globalisation and the consquent decay of cricket, that the ruling group

It is becoming clear that the BCCI Working Committee would meet before its office-bearers join the April 27 conclave convened the Union Minister of State for Sports. The BCCI is now keeping its eyes wide open. BCCI President AC Muthiah has even said he would not hesitate to ask an investigating agency to deal with Prabhakar's charges, if needed.

Curiously, the Sports Ministry has not intimated its decision to summon cricketers and officials to them. As of late on Satudray evening, the Board had not received any letter from Government that its officials should meet Dhindsa. For that matter, Indian captain Sourav Ganguly said from his Manchester home that he had not heard from the Government.

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