NCP serves notice on Aussies

National Congress Party’s national secretary Majeed Memon has served a legal notice on the Australian High Commission seeking an apology from the Australian Cricket team for its “misdemeanour” towards NCP and BCCI president Sharad Pawar during the Champions Trophy award ceremony.

“We have given 72 hours notice asking the Australian High Commissioner to persuade the erring cricketers to tender a public apology for their act, failing which appropriate legal action will be taken against them,” Memon, who is also a senior lawyer, said.

On Sunday, Pawar was nudged by the Australian team members during the award distribution ceremony. However, in their enthusiasm to get a team picture with trophy, key batsman Damien Martin nudged Pawar to move out of the frame. Though Pawar downplayed the incident, Memon said the disrespectful act cannot be forgotten.

“I have served the notice in the capacity of a cricket-lover. The Aussie team’s conduct was unwarranted and unbecoming,” said Memon. A copy of the notice has also been e-mailed to ICC at Dubai. “The presenter of the award is taller in stature in comparison to the receiver and the status of Pawar is such that any unpleasant incident involving him would cause injury to the sentiments of cricket-loving people,” the notice said.

Irrespective of whether the ugly act was intentional or inadvertent, the erring men must publicly apologise to Pawar within full view of the Indian people,” Memon added.