Aussie behaviour unfortunate but reports are exaggerated: Cairns

New Delhi, Nov 8 (UNI) The Aussies have never been the most friendly team around but though shoving BCCI President Sharad Pawar at the Champions Trophy presentation ceremony was unfortunate, the issue was blown out of proportion, feels former New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns.

''It was a very unfortunate incident and should not have happened at all. But I would request everybody to take things in perspective.

Moreover, the man at the center of it (Mr Pawar) has already said that it was not a big issue for him,'' Cairns told reporters at the sidelines of a promotional campaign here.

''I mean words like pushing and shoving have been used to describe the whole incident and I think that's not fair. From what I have seen, it seemed to be a gesture to move aside and nothing more than that. I would only say that don't blow it out of proportion,'' he added.

The Australians in their hurry to get hold of the Champions Trophy had pushed BCCI President off the presentation dais. The incident has sparked off protests in India with several former players calling for an apology from the World Champions.

Cairns, however, said he could understand the furore over the incident as no country would tolerate such treatment to their cricket administrators.

''I think it would have caused a similar situation if Sachin Tendulkar had nudged some Australian dignitary on the presentation dais Down Under. Such incidents should never happen but I would again say that keep things in context,'' he said.

The former all-rounder, who bid adieu to international career earlier this year, was happy with the way the Kiwis played in the Champions Trophy and said the ''perennial underdogs'' realised their full potential before being knocked out in the semifinals against Australia.

However, Cairns feels despite their fighting spirit, the Kiwis are not the contenders to win next year's World Cup.

''I can't see them (New Zealand) winning the World Cup next year.

I think New Zealand can go as far as the semi-finals but not beyond that. For us to be in the finals we need to develop better as a team and be more consistent,'' he said.

''As far as our performance in the Champions Trophy is concerned, I think New Zealand played to their potential and I am pretty satisfied with the way they performed,'' he added.

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