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Cricketers' kin condemn attack on BCCI

The attack on the Board of Control for Cricket in India headquarters by alleged Shiv Sainiks in Bombay yesterday evoked strong condemnation from former cricketers and family members of present Indian cricketers.

Anil Kumble's father Krishnaswamy Kumble speaking from Bangalore felt it was better to call off the tour. It is not just the players' safety that is in question now but also that of the common people, he felt.

However, Snehashish Ganguly, brother of Saurav Ganguly, termed the present happenings as nonsensical, but was strongly in favour of the tour going ahead. ''Mad people can say anything but they cannot get away with it. The Indian government has to be very tough and provide full security,'' he said.

Former Indian Test player Dilip Sardesai termed the incident as disgusting and added that such a thing was expected. He wondered what these people got by beating up somebody like the BCCI executive secretary, Sharad Diwadkar and damaging the trophies which India had won.

''I am now worried for the Indian cricketers who live in Bombay, especially Sachin Tendulkar who is very vulnerable.

Former BCCI president and present Congress MP Madhavrao Scindia termed the incident as failure of the central and state government to maintain law and order. This incident will tarnish the image of the country in the world, Scindia added.

Meanwhile, the Bombay police is still on the lookout for the miscreants responsible for the incident.

Top police officers said efforts were still on to track down the miscreants.

Investigations are on in full swing and the police hopes to nab the culprits soon, a senior police officer said.

Though it was reported that Shiv Sainiks were responsible for the incident, the party has denied any involvement in the attack.

UNI

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