Jadeja eligible for selection, rules court

In a move that could let Ajay Jadeja play competitive cricket, the Delhi High Court has directed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to consider him for selection in Ranji Trophy matches, India's premier domestic tournament. The BCCI had banned Jadeja for match fixing.

The decision answered a petition filed by Jadeja after the board delayed implementing a court-appointed arbitrator's decision, three months ago, to overturn the five-year ban imposed on him.

On January 27, Justice JK Mehra, the arbitrator, had ruled that the inquiry commission to investigate whether Jadeja was involved in match fixing had not followed proper legal procedure. The arbitrator had been appointed after a few hearings in the High Court case that Jadeja filed challenging the ban on him.

The next day after the arbitrator's decision, Jadeja was stopped from playing for a Delhi Club and the match cancelled after the Indian board intervened. Jadeja filed another petition in the Delhi High Court

The recent court award is to become final and binding on April 27. The court has asked the BCCI to respond to the ruling, and fixed the next hearing for May 19.