No space for selectors in Mohali

The Punjab Cricket Association Stadium here in Mohali was packed to the last least. There was very little empty space in the 30,000 capacity stadium. But there was no visible congestion overflow. But elsewhere in the city, there was overflow and space crunch, which forced some of the key members of the Indian cricket set-up to leave the city.

It has been learnt that the members of the national selection committee had to leave the city in a jiffy for lack of space. All the five selectors, including chairman Krishnamachari Srikkanth, had checked into a top hotel in the city, but had to leave on Wednesday morning. The hotels in the city were packed.

One of the reasons for lack of space, it was learnt, was the presence of a large entourage from across the border. The Pakistan prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani had come to the city with a large delegation as a result of which some reservations had to be cancelled. Besides, the hotel houses members of the India and Pakistan team.

Unconfirmed reports said that a delegation of the International Cricket Council (ICC) was also staying in the hotel. But sources say only a few important members, besides the teams and match officials, were put up in the hotel.

It was also learnt that N Srinivasan, BCCI secretary, was also finding it difficult to get accommodation in the hotel. Many BCCI officials, who would otherwise stay in the five-star hotel, had to settle elsewhere in the city.

When contacted, Srikkanth confirmed to this paper that he and his colleagues had to leave for want of space.

“We were there but had to leave. I cannot speak at this stage. Please understand,” the chief selector said.