Kennington News

MUMBAI, June 19: The BCCI finally admitted on Tuesday that Indian cricket is "passing through a difficult phase."

In a two-page letter issued to every member of the Indian team and management, aimed at boosting the confidence on the eve of their departure to Europe, the Board officials made this admission. The letter is basically a list of Dos and Don'ts for the team on their 81-day sojourn to the Old Blighty.

"Indian cricket is passing through a difficult phase after our poor showing in the World Cup, and along with the BCCI, the players have also gone through some tough time," wrote the Board's chief administrative officer Ratnakar Shetty.

This is a first of sorts, for, post the World Cup, the officialdom have only privately admitted about the same.

The Board officials - secretary Niranjan Shah and CAO Shetty - held two closed-door meetings with, first, the entire squad (including the support staff) and then held a discussion only with the support staff. It is at these meetings that the letter was handed over to the squad.

While a major focus of the letter is with regards to Dos and Don'ts, there are some veiled warnings as well. "You are representing the country where all actions of yours will be closely followed and we have to impress upon all the members of the squad to be disciplined, at times, both on and off the field. Please ensure that all the talks in the dressing room and in team meetings is confidential and always respect this," read the letter, a copy of which is with the TOI.

This diktat from the Board comes after the Chappell experience when there was a feeling that team information was easily accessible to the media. The Board is hoping that there is no repeat of the same in the recent future.

Instances during the World Cup of an alleged fight between India's lead pace bowlers Sreesanth and Zaheer Khan in the dressing room was part of the same 'leak' which enraged the officials.

Apart from the regular media gag, the Board has decreed that as on previous tours, it will only be the manager Chandu Borde and skipper Rahul Dravid who will speak to the press. "Please do not give any interviews without the permission of the team management," the letter says.

The letter also mentions the daily allowance of the team during the three legs of the tour with a break-up of the same being provided.

Meanwhile, skipper Dravid will be India's Sporting Ambassador for an event launched by Mayor of London called 'India Now.' The letter instructs the players and the management to attend the event to be kick-started on July 17.

At the end of it all, the Board is hopeful that the players will manage to erase the memories of the recent past. "You have an opportunity to rebuild the confidence of the people in Indian cricket and we are sure that you will do your best on this tour," signed off the letter.

Fixtures: India's tour of Ireland, England and Scotland, 2007

June 2007

Sat 23 Only ODI - Ireland v India: Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont, Belfast

Tue 26 1st ODI - India v South Africa: Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont, Belfast

Fri 29 2nd ODI - India v South Africa: Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont, Belfast

July 2007

Sun 1 3rd ODI - India v South Africa: Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont, Belfast

Tue 3 Only ODI - India v Pakistan: Titwood, Glasgow

Sat 7 - Tue 10 Sussex v Indians: County Ground, Hove

Fri 13 - Sun 15 England Lions v Indians: County Ground, Chelmsford

Thu 19 - Mon 23 1st Test - England v India: Lord's, London

Fri 27 - Tue 31 2nd Test - England v India: Trent Bridge, Nottingham

August 2007

Fri 3 - Sun 5 Indians v Sri Lanka A: Grace Road, Leicester

Thu 9 - Mon 13 3rd Test - England v India: Kennington Oval, London

Thu 16 Only ODI - Scotland v India: Titwood, Glasgow

Sat 18 England Lions v Indians: County Ground, Northampton

Tue 21 1st ODI - England v India: The Rose Bowl, Southampton

Fri 24 2nd ODI - England v India: County Ground, Bristol

Mon 27 3rd ODI - England v India: Edgbaston, Birmingham

Thu 30 4th ODI - England v India: Old Trafford, Manchester

September 2007

Sun 2 5th ODI - England v India: Headingley, Leeds

Wed 5 6th ODI - England v India: Kennington Oval, London

Sat 8 7th ODI - England v India: Lord's, London