DAMBULLA: India's cricketers are not known for upholding high standards of professionalism when it comes to media commitments. But even going by the usual, what transpired at the Rangiri International Stadium after one of their worst ODI defeats would constitute as peculiar.
The team kept the media waiting for one-and-a-half hours at the mandatory post-match press conference, opting instead for a game of soccer, although it is compulsory for either the captain or any other team member to turn up for a briefing after the presentation ceremony which follows a match.
Counterpart Sangakkara had finished his bit and frantic calls from Sri Lanka Cricket's (SLC) media manager, who conducts the post-match proceedings, were treated dismissively. India's shambolic performance ensured the match got over at 7.15 pm, and eventually Dhoni turned up at 8.45 pm, ten minutes after the international print media had got tired of waiting and walked out.
Sangakkara, incidentally, came in at 7.42 pm, immediately after the presentation.
In between, everyone from the ICC to the BCCI was contacted. Indian team manager Ranjeeb Biswal, who was also playing soccer as a goalkeeper, told media persons over phone at about 8.20 pm: "We have time till 10.15 pm (when the match was supposed to be over officially). Dhoni will be there in five minutes."
An ICC spokesman clarified: "In ICC events, it is compulsory for the losing captain to turn up for these briefings first, immediately after the presentation ceremony. In other series, it's an agreement between the host board and the participating board."
Hassled SLC members clarified there was an understanding that the post-match briefing would be got over within half-an-hour of the presentation, adding: "Dhoni said he wanted to play soccer, so we sent Sangakkara. There are no hard and fast rules, and it's more a reflection of the team's attitude," said an SLC member.
The team kept the media waiting for one-and-a-half hours at the mandatory post-match press conference, opting instead for a game of soccer, although it is compulsory for either the captain or any other team member to turn up for a briefing after the presentation ceremony which follows a match.
Counterpart Sangakkara had finished his bit and frantic calls from Sri Lanka Cricket's (SLC) media manager, who conducts the post-match proceedings, were treated dismissively. India's shambolic performance ensured the match got over at 7.15 pm, and eventually Dhoni turned up at 8.45 pm, ten minutes after the international print media had got tired of waiting and walked out.
Sangakkara, incidentally, came in at 7.42 pm, immediately after the presentation.
In between, everyone from the ICC to the BCCI was contacted. Indian team manager Ranjeeb Biswal, who was also playing soccer as a goalkeeper, told media persons over phone at about 8.20 pm: "We have time till 10.15 pm (when the match was supposed to be over officially). Dhoni will be there in five minutes."
An ICC spokesman clarified: "In ICC events, it is compulsory for the losing captain to turn up for these briefings first, immediately after the presentation ceremony. In other series, it's an agreement between the host board and the participating board."
Hassled SLC members clarified there was an understanding that the post-match briefing would be got over within half-an-hour of the presentation, adding: "Dhoni said he wanted to play soccer, so we sent Sangakkara. There are no hard and fast rules, and it's more a reflection of the team's attitude," said an SLC member.
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