In what has become a nightmare of a tour, the Indian cricket team found itself at the centre of a fresh controversy by skipping the ICC Annual Awards despite having a few of its top players in the list of nominees.
The team claimed that the invite for the function came late but the ICC insisted that the BCCI and the visiting side had been informed well in advance.
The Indians, whitewashed 0-4 in the Tests and trailing 0-2 in the ODIs against England, were interestingly staying at a hotel close to the venue of the function held last night. 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 clarification from the ICC was that a mail to this effect had already been sent to the BCCI, much in advance on August 26.
“The Indian team management had been invited to attend tonight and they were invited some weeks ago. Those who were nominated for awards have known it since 26th of August, in Canterbury, when the short-listed names for the awards were announced,” said ICC’s Head of Communications Colin Gibson. 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.
Rajiv Shukla, a senior functionary of the BCCI who attended the function, wasn’t aware that the Indian team wouldn’t be turning up for the function.
“I thought those who have been nominated would be attending the function,” said Shukla.
It’s a shame that the Indians did not attend: Lorgat
The ICC today squarely laid the blame on BCCI for the Indian cricket team’s absence at the Annual Awards function last night, saying it’s a “shame” that the Indian players skipped the event.
ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat insisted that they had informed the BCCI about the function much 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,” 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.
The ICC CEO 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. And that makes me feel more sad and unhappy,” 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.
