Raising a piquant situation for the Board of Control for Cricket in India, it has come to light that master batsman Sachin Tendulkar had played alongside 'rebel' player Dinesh Mongia for Lashings World XI in two matches in England in June.
Tendulkar and Mongia had opened the innings for Lashings World XI against St Bede's School Headmasters XI at the school ground in Essex on June 27. While Tendulkar sizzled with an 84-ball knock of 98, Mongia hit 72 off 41 balls, according to the club website.
Tendulkar had batted at number two and the left-handed India discard Mongia at number three on June 24 for the same side, making 32 and 66 respectively against Eastbourne College XI at the latter's ground.
Mongia has aligned with the rebel Indian Cricket League.
Interestingly, Mumbai left-arm spinner Nilesh Kulkarni was also part of the Lashings' squad which also contained New Zealand's ICL rebel Chris Harris.
Incidentally, the BCCI has stopped Piyush Chawla and V V S Laxman from signing up to play for English counties due to the presence of ICL rebels in their ranks.
The BCCI has maintained right through that it would have no pact with ICL and also banned players who have taken part in the Essel Group-bankrolled rival league that took off much before the Board's own and highly successful Indian Premier League.
It will be interesting to see if the BCCI decides to take any action against veteran batsman Tendulkar for playing in the same team as an ICL player.
