Chief selector Patil upset over ‘public seating’

Upset with the seat arrangement provided to him, Sandeep Patil, chairman of the national selection committee, threatened to walk out from the Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium. Eventually it took Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) president Ajay Shirke's intervention to calm Patil down.

Patil and fellow selector Vikram Rathour were asked to sit in a corporate box during India's first T20 clash against England in Pune, where they were surrounded by a number of fans. The new selection chief had already notified to the BCCI that he required utmost privacy while watching cricket and had demanded for a private box at all venues. And when he found himself being seated in a public area, Patil decided to leave the arena before Shirke had to request him to stay back.

"He was not expecting to be seated along with the public, who are neither from the Indian board or the MCA. Patil was then shifted to the first tier of the corporate box with Rathour," confirmed a MCA official.

However, a senior BCCI official, when contacted about the issue, is learned to have asked the MCA official to let Patil leave. The former India right-hander's special demand though has been heeded to at the Wankhede Stadium where the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) have made a special provision for him in the president box.

"Patil doesn't like to talk much when he is watching cricket. He will only oblige those people whom he knows. Even at Wankhede they have built a partition so that he can come and sit quietly," the official said.

On Pune's big night, Maharashtra sack Ranji coach

Even before their disappointing Ranji Trophy season could come to an end, the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) has sacked Dermot Reeve as its coach. The foreign coach, previously a medium pacer who played two Tests for England, will be replaced by former national selector Surendra Bhave.

... contd.

ALSO READ

Yuvraj fails to keep Pune Warriors in the war zone

Zulu gave finishing touches to 'Hayden fan' Miller

CSK vs Sunrisers: Suresh Raina one short, Hyderabad well short

Big Two start with draws