BCCI not to make Pawar's 'humiliation' an issue

Vadodara, Nov 7 (UNI) Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) today said it is not going to make an issue of the reported humiliation meted out to its president Sharad Pawar by the victorious Australian team during the Champions Trophy award giving ceremony in Mumbai.

''The Board thinks that the behaviour of the Australian cricketers towards Mr Pawar on the dais was unintentional,'' BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah said.

On the widespread criticism of the Australian cricketers, particularly Ricky Ponting and Damien Martyn, by the media and cricket stalwarts like Sachin Tendulkar, Mr Shah denied that the Board had any plans to seek an apology from the Aussie cricketers or their cricket board on the issue.

Reacting to the unsavory incident, former India captain and coach Anshuman Gaekwad said the Australia Cricket Board must take cognizance of the incident and send an apology to the BCCI president for the behaviour of its team members.

''Though the action of the Australian cricketers could be out of excitement, this sort of indecent behaviour can't be appreciated,'' Gaekwad said and urged the BCCI and the media not to make it an issue.

UNI SS KU SAM DS1523