Munaf Patel rubbishes allegations of sending death-threat to Vadodara cricket chief
Vadodara-based Cricket Hitrakshak Samiti (CHS) boss Devendra Surti has submitted an application to the Navapura police accusing Munaf Patel of sending death threats.
In Short
- Vadodara cricket body chief Devendra Surti claimed that Munaf is "threatening to kill him"
- Munaf refuted the claims saying that his name is being "unnecessarily dragged into the matter"
- Munaf at present serves as the mentor for senior teams under the Baroda Cricket Association
Former India cricketer and 2011 World Cup winner Munaf Patel has courted fresh controversy after he allegedly sent death threats to Vadodara-based Cricket Hitrakshak Samiti (CHS) chief Devendra Surti.
Devendra Surti told the police that Munaf is "threatening to kill him" but the former fast bowler has rubbished the allegations levelled against him.
Surti alleged that he was targeted because of the anti-corruption fights the CHS has been taking up against the Baroda Cricket Association. Munaf at present serves as the mentor for the senior teams under BCA.
"I have been raising my voice against corruption in the cricket association and this is why I am being threatened. I want the police to know that if something happens to me and my family, then Munaf Patel should be held responsible," Surti was quoted as saying by Indian Express.
Police inspector at Navapura police station, R M Chauhan said, "We have received the application from Surti. However, he has not filed any police complaint and therefore no FIR has been lodged in the matter."
But Munaf has refuted the claims and said that his name is being "unnecessarily dragged into the matter".
"My name has been dragged into the matter for no reason. I have only played cricket and would continue to do that throughout my life. He has issues with the selections, but I am a team mentor and have no role to play in selections. My name has been unnecessarily dragged into the matter and the allegations are completely baseless," Munaf was quoted by Indian Express.
Munaf Patel retired from the sport in November last year after having represented India in 13 Tests, 70 ODIs and 3 T20Is since making his debut at Mohali on March 9, 2006.
In 13 Tests Munaf took 35 wickets at an average of 38.54 with one four-wicket haul while in 70 ODIs he picked up 86 wickets at 30.26. He finally finished his international career with 4 T20I wickets.
Munaf was also part of India's 2011 World Cup-winning team and finished the tournament as the third-highest wicket-taker for the eventual champions, behind Zaheer Khan and Yuvraj Singh.