Mumbai, Nov 04: Security-conscious New Zealand cricket team, who had asked the Indian cricket board (BCCI) to put up nets for practice at the Brabourne stadium before the crucial tie in the ongoing tri-nation one-day cricket tournament against India at Cuttack on November six, failed to turn there citing security arrangements. According to BCCI officials here today, the Kiwis, who lost to world champions Australia (the third team in fray) by two wickets at Pune yesterday, called up their office and asked for nets to be put up at the Brabourne stadium so that some of their players could have practice but did not ask for security from their hotel to the stadium and back during their practice session in the afternoon.
"Accordingly, we arranged for nets at the stadium from 2 pm onwards. However, they rang up again after reaching Mumbai and asked for security during journey from their hotel rooms near the international airport to the stadium at the last minute and we were not able to do so as we had already made arrangements (security) at the venue."
"Though all the arrangements were made at the venue the Kiwis failed to turn up for nets," the official added.
The Kiwis, who are languishing at the bottom of the points table with just three points to their credit, needs to win the Cuttack tie to still be in the race. They are scheduled to leave for Cuttack tomorrow.
Bureau Report