new delhi, november 23 As Abhijit Kale’s suspension got wide-spread condemnation from various quarters and the tainted Maharashtra players got full support from his home association, BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya insisted that ‘‘the Indian board had gone by the book.’’

Speaking to The Indian Express Dalmiya said that ‘‘there is a clause in the constitution by which the player can be suspended, pending inquiry and a subsequent disciplinary committee hearing.’’ He also added that such steps are only taken when a complaint made ‘‘is not anonymous and of serious nature’’.

By this statement Dalmiya also replied to the recent allegation made by an under-17 cricketer from UP, Ritesh Yadav, who revealed that he had submitted a written complaint to the BCCI president after a pay-and-play demand by a selector for a place in the under-15 state side.

But not everyone was aware about the clause Dalmiya is talking about. A senior BCCI official talking to The Indian Express said he wasn’t sure ‘‘if at all there was a clause of this nature.’’ But this official was quick to add that the ‘‘president does have discretionary powers to take such a decision.’’

Since doubts have been raised on Dalmiya’s decision by a leading player like Kapil Dev and secretary of the Indian Cricket Players Association, Arun Lal, the BCCI has now called for a emergency meeting of its working committee in New Delhi on November 30. As a BCCI official said, ‘‘since this happens to be the president’s individual decision, he will be keen to ratify it at the working committee meeting.’’

This BCCI huddle comes a day on which Kale has received unstinted support from the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) chairman Balasaheb Thorve. Though the report by MCA’s in-house inquiry is still awaited, Thorve went ahead to say, ‘‘I feel Kale is innocent and he has been denied natural justice.’’