Sachin, Agarkar hit nets

MUMBAI: Sachin Tendulkar and Ajit Agarkar on Wednesday practised in public for the first time after India’s debacle in the World Cup at the Bandra Kurla Complex ground of the Mumbai Cricket Association.

The two cricketers went through their stint for a couple of hours at the practice area outside the main ground, but preferred not to interact with media persons.

Both of them, along with Zaheer Khan, have expressed their availability to play for Ranji Trophy winners Mumbai in the All India Inter Zonal Twenty20 tournament set to be held here and in Ahmedabad concurrently from April 15.

Tendulkar has been asked for an explanation by the Cricket Board for his comments to the media about World Cup coach Greg Chappell who has since then quit his post.

The ace batsman has found himself at the centre of another controversy following a report by a television channel that he had cut a cake in the colours of the national flag during the Indian team’s stay in the West Indies last month.