Cold response to warm-up game

Cold response to warm-up game
Express News Service

New Delhi, March 3: The excitement and enthusiasm normally attached with the hosting of any important tour game at the Capital’s ‘historic’ Ferozshah Kotla ground is missing this time. Also missing are the ‘free-pass-seekers.’ The usual ‘festive’ atmosphere is missing. The reasons are quite obvious. Firstly, the humiliating 10-wicket defeat suffered by the Indian team in the first Test at Mumbai has taken the sheen out of the three-day warm-up game between the Australians and the Board President’s XI to be held here from Tuesday.

Despite the last-minute decision of Saurav Ganguly to play this match, there has not been much enthusiasm for tickets or complimentaries. The CBSE examinations, scheduled to begin next week, have forced young cricket-lovers to miss the opportunity to watch some of the ‘invincible’ Australians ‘live.’

Even DDCA officials did not seem too excited about the game even as tempos carrying furnitures (chairs, tables, etc) arrived at the venue this afternoon. With news of ‘poor response to ticket sales’ for the Kolkata Test tricking in, some of the DDCA officials wore a worried look. Chetan Chauhan looked the only local association official eager on getting the ground ready for the match as he ‘supervised’ the groundmen at work. Even Chauhan, manager of the Indian team for the current series and one of the vice-presidents of DDCA, was seen pleading with another official to get a new grass-cutting machine to expedite the job. The old machine at the ground is reportedly under repair. The concerned official authorised to ‘sanction’ purchase of a fresh one was not available at the venue.National selector Madan Lal was a mute spectator to the happenings even as Bishan Bedi was busy training the Delhi Ranji Trophy players at one corner of the ground.

Meanwhile, there is confusion over the venue where the Australians would have their practice session. The Air Force authorities at the Palam sports complex have reportedly turned down the Australians’ request as their cricketers are busy with a preparatory camp forthe forthcoming tri-nation Air Force tournament. Even the National Stadium nets are reportedly ‘booked’ for Sunday. In that case, the visitors may have a session at the Kotla on Sunday afternoon. The Australians are scheduled to reach here on Sunday morning. The members of the Board President’s XI will land here in batches from their respective places and have nets at the Kotla on Monday, according to team manager and former India leg-spinner Rakesh Shukla.

The Indian team for the second Test at Kolkata, starting on March 11, will be named during the course of the Delhi game when most of the national selectors are expected to be present.