Re: 2nd ODI Pakistan vs India
Agarkar involved in argument with chief curator
From our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: India’s medium pacer Ajit Agarkar was involved in an argument with the chief curator of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Agha Zahid on Thursday here at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
The incident took place after despite repeated requests, Agarkar insisted on continuing to carry out batting practice on a pitch on the square close to the main pitch being prepared for the second One-day International (ODI) at the stadium.
“Words were exchanged between Agarkar and the ground staff when their requests did not stop Agarkar from batting on a pitch close to the main wicket,” a ground staffer confirmed.
“Agarkar was told several times that he should practise somewhere else as he was taking big hits and the ball could injure the ground staff who were working on the main pitch close by. He was also reminded that the ball coming onto the main pitch repeatedly could damage the surface with the other Indian players running onto it,” he said.
When Agarkar did not heed their requests, Zahid lost his cool and had an argument with the 28-year-old, who called a team official, M Baladitya to sort out the matter after which the ground staff removed the nets in which he practised.
From Agarkar’s point of view, he only needed more than 20 minutes of practice. But the staffers threw tantrums.
Net sessions were conducted on Thursday against the wishes of the local administration and police who didn’t want the teams at the stadium because of the 10th of Muharram-ul-Haraam.
But the Indians insisted on having early morning nets as they had not had any practice since the first ODI in Peshawar on Monday.