The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Wednesday stoutly defended its action in imposing a life ban on former India cricket skipper Mohammad Azharuddin for his alleged role in the match-fixing scandal that hit headlines in the year 2000.

BCCI executive secretary Sharad Diwadkar, who was cross-examined in connection with the main suit filed by Azharuddin, challenging the life ban in the Hyderabad city civil court, told advocate-commissioner Ms G Neerja that action was taken against the former cricket skipper after a proper inquiry into the scandal.

Advocate-commissioner Ms G Neerja, appointed by second additional chief judge, city civil court, recorded the proceedings when Diwardkar, who arrived in from Mumbai, was cross-examined by Azharuddin's counsel, K Jagadeesh, for almost three hours today.

According to BCCI's counsel Venkatesh, Diwadkar reiterated the Board's stand that action against Azharuddin was taken after a thorough probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation as well as BCCI's own inquiry, conducted by K Madhavan.

Diwadkar refuted the contention of Azharuddin's counsel that Madhavan did not conduct a proper inquiry.

"The inquiry by Madhavan was proper and it followed the principles of natural justice," the BCCI official stated.

Azharuddin, in his main suit as well as during his cross-examination by BCCI counsel, had alleged that he was given a raw deal as Madhavan did not give him an opportunity to clarify his stand.

The advocate-commissioner will submit her report to the second additional chief judge, Ms M Vijayalaxmi, who is hearing the main suit, by next Monday.

Meanwhile, the BCCI's petition, calling for the CBI report into the match-fixing scandal, would come up for hearing on Thursday.