By CricketCountry Staff
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Indian team touring England have been summoned by the Indian High Commission to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi for failing to attend the reception hosted by the Indian high commissioner in United Kingdom on July 18.
Published: Jul 27, 2011, 11:40 AM (IST)
Edited: Jul 27, 2011, 11:40 AM (IST)
Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni organised a function on the same day as convoy’s reception to raise funds for his charity © Getty Images
By CricketCountry Staff
London: Jul 27, 2011
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Indian team touring England have been summoned by the Indian High Commission to the Ministry of External affairs (MEA) in New Delhi for failing to attend the reception hosted by the Indian High Commissioner in United Kingdom on July 18. It must be noted that it is mandatory for a touring Indian side to acknowledge the invitation for such occasions under the BCCI rules.
It is learnt that Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni had arranged a function on the same day at swanky central London hotel to raise funds for his charity. Members of the Indian squad, including Sachin Tendulkar, preferred to attend MS Dhoni’s function rather than showing up at a reception held by Indian high commissioner in their honour.
After knowing that Dhoni had organised a function at the same date, Indian High Commissioner, Nalin Surie had to abandon the planned function abruptly much to his embarrassment. About 100 invitation cards had already been distributed for the do which was scheduled to be held on the lawns of his residence at Kensington Palace Gardens. Prominent cricketing and diplomatic personalities were on the list of invitees.
This ordeal is not the first of its kind. In 1974, Indian side led by Ajit Wadekar arrived late for high commissioner’s party which alienated the officials. Two years ago, Indian players turned up for the event in jeans and vests, when they were expected to be in suits or blazers.
N Srinivasan, secretary of the BCCI, said that he didn’t have any knowledge about the incident before vaguely adding further “dates were changed”, alluding BCCI is not to be blamed this. The manager of the Indian touring party Anirudh Chaudhry didn’t reply to media’s calls or messages.
However, it seems that visitors are in talks with the mission to convey their apologies describing the ‘mix-up’ as unfortunate and compensate by attending the function at a later date.
