Indian team told to sort out injury worries

By Our Sports Reporter

NEW DELHI, NOV. 9. Smarting under the nine-wicket defeat against South Africa in the first Test, the Indian cricket team has been asked to sort out its injury worries at the earliest.

Contrary to the reports quoting national selectors that no replacement would be sent for the injured stumper Sameer Dighe, the President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Mr. Jagmohan Dalmia, said that the Selection Committee had been asked to resolve the matter soon.

``We have asked the Selection Committee to hold a teleconference with the team management and decide whether to send any extra player for the remaining two Tests,'' Mr. Dalmia said.

The BCCI President was in the Capital to meet the Sports Minister, Ms. Uma Bharti, to apprise her on the preparations ahead of the England team's arrival here. The English cricketers are scheduled to reach Mumbai on November 14.

After being closeted for more than an hour with Mr. Dalmia, Ms. Bharti said that they mainly discussed the ensuing visit by the England team.

Scoffing at reports that a few venues may be shifted, Mr. Dalmia said that there was no change in the itinerary agreed earlier. A two-member delegation of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) had visited India last week and they were satisfied with it, Mr. Dalmia said.

When asked about the content of the report he had received from coach John Wright and physio Andrew Leipus, Mr. Dalmia refused to divulge any information. The report was sent to the BCCI President after Mr. Dalmia had sought explanation on India's poor performance in the one-day triangular series in South Africa.

``We will talk to the players and the officials when the team returns. There are many issues that needed to be given a thought,'' Mr. Dalmia said. ``The 2003 World Cup is just 14 months away and the kind of performance our team has been giving is a matter of concern,'' he added.

On India's loss in the first Test, Mr. Dalmia said that he was saddened with it. ``There is no consistency in the performance of the players,'' he said.

The other issues that were discussed were the income tax and customs duty exemption for the BCCI. ``If we get income tax exemption then only we will be able to hold the ICC Knock-out Cup in 2002,'' Mr. Dalmia said. ``Otherwise we may bid to host the next tournament,'' he added.

The BCCI has also sought exemption of customs duty on the import of kookaburra balls. While the national team gets to play with the kookaburra balls, the juniors so far, had to settle with the Indian makes.

``The problem arises when our junior players go out to play in the international tournaments. They struggle to cope with the different seam and bounce of kookaburra balls,'' Mr. Dalmia said.

With the Indian juniors preparing for the Under-19 World Cup, scheduled to be held in January 2002 in New Zealand, the BCCI intends providing kookaburra balls in the domestic tournaments also.

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