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England in India 2008-09
Players' presence at charity match raises eyebrows
Cricinfo staff
November 15, 2008
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The presence of three members of India's one-day squad - the captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Zaheer Khan and RP Singh - at a private function in a Maharashtra town on Saturday has raised eyebrows over its clear departure from practice. The three cricketers attended, with the permission of the BCCI, the inauguration of a private cricket academy in Bhandara while the rest of the squad was in Indore for the second ODI in the series against England.
There were also concerns over their security. PTI reported the cricketers played with locals, resulting in crowd surges.
The academy is named after the father of union civil aviation minister Praful Patel, who belongs to the same political party as Sharad Pawar, the former BCCI president.
The three players left the team soon after the 158-run win in Rajkot on Friday but BCCI officials said they had "no issues" with it. "Yes, they had BCCI permission. Since they were attending a cricket game we had no issues and even the players had no issues," Ratnakar Shetty, the BCCI's chief administrative officer, said.
"There is nothing wrong in attending such a programme," Rajiv Shukla, the BCCI's finance committee chairman, told PTI. "It was for a charitable cause. They had taken prior permission and enough security measures were in place. The academy is for rural children and it should not be blown out of proportion since there was no practice session today."
The decision was criticised by Chetan Chauhan, the former Indian opener. "How were they allowed to go without ascertaining the security arrangements," he was quoted as saying by PTI. "How were they allowed to go when a series is on?"
Originally Yuvraj Singh and Irfan Pathan, too, had confirmed their participation, but Pathan opted out a few days back and Yuvraj could not make it due to the back injury he had sustained while batting on Friday.
The players will rejoin the team ahead of the second ODI in Indore on Monday.
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It was for a charitable cause that these players participated in.What's wrong in that? Whether the players were tired or not, we don't know.They know best whether their bodies want rest or are willing to play more and more.Who cares about Chetan Chauhan's comments? Why doesn't he offer comments when India wins?
Posted by Skywalker1977 on (November 16 2008, 05:45 AM GMT)It seems that the BCCI would bend any rule to suit its designs. Firstly, with the selection of Narendra Hirwani as the selector from Central Zone. With the rule stating a cooling period of 10 years from active cricket, Hirwani was an automatic disqualification having retired a couple of years back. It was then changed to retirement from international cricket for atleast 10 years. Pity Hirwani did not play long enough for India, pity him no more! And now this, when a captain and a couple of players were taken away from the team to get political mileage for a politician who is more keen on cultivating a good public image with creased kurtas than doing any other good. Even with the IPL and the growing clamour of being the cricketing center of the universe, the BCCI is still in the rudimentary stages of evolution to a more professional body.
Posted by Rajesh.NJ on (November 16 2008, 05:19 AM GMT)Well.......... if only the BCCI could behave the same way always then they can say it ain't wrong what these players did. But will they...? I doubt......... Some other time they might punish these very same players for this 'same offence'
Posted by avkris on (November 16 2008, 04:39 AM GMT)I am amazed by the comments of Chetan Chauhan rather cricinfo posting such a useless piece of news. Can't the players have a bit of breather in between the taxing matches?? Let them go out and enjoy a bit so that they come out fresh and raring on the cricket field. Its as simple as that!!
Posted by 1gman on (November 16 2008, 04:34 AM GMT)Dear CricInfo Team, Please do not publish such an useless issue with boom boom heading. You are the best web on any stats while talks about cricket. Please do not cheat us with such heading. Thanks.
Posted by NormalHuman on (November 16 2008, 04:29 AM GMT)Cant imagine y this news is reported at all on Cricinfo(sports site with a unique caliber).Wt harm did these cricketers do,just following them all the time will make them more conceled and aloof from the public and media perspective.Media should definitely start drawing its lines otherwise they would jeoperdise everything they r related with,only for the reason of "selfish publicity" and the real cause of revealing the truth will be left behind in gutters.Lets hope the media gets educated with feedback thats been posted!
Posted by rchandak on (November 16 2008, 04:22 AM GMT)Its our duty not to get so much into the lives of our players.We are so critical sometimes that we tend to forget that even they are human beings.I could understand criticism if India was doing badly.But why now !! we have unrooted the so called world champions!.We should be more mature in our approach towards our own players.
Posted by Da_Punjabi on (November 16 2008, 03:05 AM GMT)It is not "mountain out of a molehill" as you describe... We are in middle of a tour. THe opening of acamdemy could be delayed... Tendulkar was free to participate.. They could have invited the Fav 4 plus Kumble, why disturb the touring team for a politician. Players are left to appease these politicians without a complain.
Posted by ndogcricfan on (November 16 2008, 02:33 AM GMT)I don't see how this should be a problem. They were playing cricket, after all. In other countries, sportsmen cut ribbons and inaugurate stadiums, so why can't our guys do the same?
Posted by Da_Punjabi on (November 16 2008, 01:06 AM GMT)Gift of Democracy is that it brings the worst politicians in India to head of nation affairs. India runs only its politicans are sleeping. Believe me, If Patil and NCP (National Congress Party) wasn't part of Ruling alliance at the Center, and its president namely Sharad power who is also the president of BCCI, Dhoni, RP singh, and Yuvraj wouldn't have agreed to join their functions. It is not an easy task to be an Indian Player given how politicans are always out for their head. Why would Dhoni take an extra burden when he has been on tour for sometimes, and will continue to tour further on. Australia Oct 2008, England ODI November, Champion League December, England test Dec. 2008, Pakistan tour January February 2009, New Zealand tour March/April 2009. Being a captain of all 3 form of criket, he needs to be taken care from burning out.