Indian team cancels practice session at last minute

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By Babu Ram- Gary Kirsten sure knows what he is doing, but why was a net session cancelled at the last minute yesterday? A senior board official promises to look into the issue

Team India skipped a practice session here at the IIT Chemplast Cricket Ground yesterday.

Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli (right) during a practice session in Nagpur last Friday before their game against South Africa. PIC/SURESH KK

There was a blank reaction from Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) officials who were unaware of the reason cited by the team to call off the session that was scheduled for 1600 hrs. No reason was given nor was anyone in the Indian camp available for comment.

India manager Ranjib Biswal was unable to elaborate on the issue. When MiD DAY called him in the afternoon to confirm, he said: "Yes, the session has been cancelled." When asked the reason, he said: "It's just cancelled," but did not comment further. Later, in the evening, his phone was powered off.

A top Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) official said that he was not aware of this, and that he would find out the reason.

"We haven't been informed about this, but we will definitely look into the issue," he said.

Local media liaison RN Baba, who had made transport arrangements for the media to commute from Chepauk to IIT, said he was not given any reason by the team.

"All we have been told is that it's cancelled. I am not aware of the reasons. We are trying to find out," he said. A source close to ICC said that the organisers were displeased with repeated delays and inconsistent schedules of the Indian team.

"They (ICC) are a little perplexed with this scenario. No other team has delayed sessions more than India. It's irregular behaviour," he said.

Last week, at the Feroz Shah Kotla, skipper MS Dhoni said his team preferred to train in the evening, having delayed a session that was due to begin at 1000 hrs.

Unimpressed
Even the ICC media officials were unaware of the change in plan until the last minute.  Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh and Gautam Gambhir will join the team today while coach Gary Kirsten joined the squad yesterday. The rest of the team arrived here from Nagpur on Monday night.

India have played five games having won three, tied one and lost one.  They currently lie second in Group B, behind South Africa to whom they lost in a thriller at Nagpur on Saturday. Dhoni's men play their final group game here against West Indies on March 20.

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