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LONDON: Battered by humiliating defeats on the England tour, the Indian team created a fresh controversy by skipping the ICC Annual Awards function, inviting sharp criticism from the the governing body which said such a shameful conduct was not expected from a champion team.
Indian team claimed the invite for the function came late but the ICC insisted the BCCI and the visitors had been informed well in advance.
“It was quite disappointing that the Indian team did not attend the Awards function last night. I know for a fact that my team had invited them some months back. We probably have confirmation of their likely attendance and in fact the very date was scheduled around their availability in London. Well, they haven’t and England team has attended,” ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said.
“I know for a fact that they were invited. We sent those invitations through the BCCI. Perhaps that’s the question which should be asked to the BCCI,” Lorgat added.
He said the huge gathering at the ceremony was disappointed to not find Indian players. “In fact, I feel more saddened by the number of people, in fact everybody was in attendance last night, who were quite disappointed that India was not there, that makes me feel more sad,” Lorgat added.
Lorgat said such conduct and behaviour from a team like Indian was not expected.
“It’s a great shame and disappointing that not long ago they were the number one Test team in the World. They won the World Cup in such a great style. And there were many fans and people looking forward to their attendance. It’s a shame that they did not attend,” he said.
The Indians were interestingly staying at a hotel close to the venue of the function held on Monday.
Indian team manager Shivlal Yadav expressed his helplessness, stating he was informed only at 12 noon by an ICC communication officer by which time “the players were already away, some shopping, some sight-seeing as this was their final day of stay in London.”
The ICC sources said they have evidence by mail which confirms that the BCCI was aware of the function and had also agreed that the Indian team would attend it. “If it wasn’t so, the Indian team ought to have left for Cardiff (the venue of the final one-dayer) today itself and not stayed back in London on Monday,” said an ICC spokesman.—Agencies
