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NEW DELHI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has refused to clarify its position after the ICC blamed the board for the Indian team’s absence from the ICC Awards.
“Lorgat can say whatever he wants to. We don't want to comment on it,” CAO of the BCCI, Ratnakar Shetty told Times of India.
BCCI secretary and president-elect N Srinivasan too took the no comments route. “The board has nothing to say on this,” he stressed.
According to the Indian team manager, Shivlal Yadav, he had been informed too late about the event and by then the players already had other plans.
“By then, the players had already left. Some had gone shopping while some others sight-seeing as this was their final day in London,” he said.
However, ICC chief Haroon Lorgat dismissed this claim and said that the Indian team had been invited months before.
“It was quite disappointing that the Indian team did not attend. I know for a fact that my team had invited it a few months earlier. We probably have confirmation of their attendance. In fact, the date was scheduled around their availability in London,” Lorgat said.
“We sent the invitations through the BCCI. Perhaps the question should be asked to the BCCI,” he added.
Lorgat said that many people who had turned up to see the World champions were left disappointed and the Indian team’s behaviour was quite unexpected.
“It's a great shame. It's very disappointing that not long ago they were the No. 1 Test team in the World. They won the World Cup in such style. And many fans and people had come specifically to seem them.
“The Spirit of Cricket Award went to MS Dhoni for the wonderful leadership he showed by recalling Ian Bell. It was a deserving award and quite a shame that he was not there to accept it,” Lorgat added.
