COLOMBO, Aug 1: The Indian cricket board has objected to the presence of a Pakistani masseur in the Indian team camp and directed him to stay away from the squad.

Sohail Khan, who hails from Lahore, was directed by S.K. Nair, the secretary of the Board of the Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), to take off an Indian squad T-shirt after confronting him in the team hotel's lobby Saturday night.

Meeting the masseur in the hotel's lobby, Nair was surprised to find that the masseur had been drafted into the squad - reportedly at the behest of some players - without the board's approval.

Nair inquired about Sohail when he saw an unfamiliar face donning the Indian team shirt in the lobby. He inquired from Sohail about his credentials, and flared up when told that the masseur had virtually been part of the Indian contingent during this tournament.

"Who are you, and who approved you to be part of the Indian team," said Nair as he confronted Sohail, and then ordered him to remove the team shirt. "Don't be seen anywhere near the Indian team," Nair shouted at the masseur in front of several shocked onlookers.

Team sources, on the customary condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press that Sohail was not getting any fixed salary, but the players who sought his services were paying him money individually.

Nair's censure of Sohail came just one day before the conclusion of the three-week event. Sohail had been traveling with the team since its arrival here on July 14.

Sohail, who says he was the masseur of the Sri Lankan team in mid-90s, came in contact with the Indian players during the tour to Pakistan four months ago. "I've worked with several Asian teams. I'm a simple masseur, and just plying my trade," Sohail said on Sunday. -Agencies