As Team India were left to lug their own baggage on arrival in NZ, former star batsman Sandeep Patil recalls a similar, but shameful episode in 1996
As Team India were left to lug their own baggage on arrival in NZ, former star batsman Sandeep Patil recalls a similar, but shameful episode in 1996
ON Wednesday, the cream of India cricketers were seen walking the ramp, showing off their latest attire to be used for their limited overs campaign in New Zealand. The audience applauded and for the rest of the day they were treated like kings in the luxury of a suburban hotel.
Things were reportedly different when they landed in Christchurch yesterday though.u00a0 A PTI report said that the players had no help with their luggage and had to carry the heavy load themselves unlike teams visiting India for a tour. An unidentified member of the team slammed the absence of aid. He also recalled the time when the team travelled to Holland in 1996 to promote cricket there only to discover that there was no one at the airport to receive them and the fact that they had to organise for transport themselves.
Former Test player Sandeep Patil, who was India's cricket manager on that tour remembered it all. "The players were not impressed with no one at the airport to receive us and then the transport problem.
"C Nagraj, the manager couldn't take a decision so I decided that we face and tackle our problems instead of sulking," Patil told MiD DAY yesterday.
Patil continued: "When we arrived at the hotel we were told that there would be no porters. Apart from a few newcomers, no one was willing to lug the baggage to their rooms. The frustration of waiting for one and a half hours at the airport and no service at the hotel had got to the players. The Holland Cricket Association was not equipped to deal with our needs. So I decided to carry their bags to the rooms on the third floor.
"And the senior players just sat in the lobby and watched me doing it. To me, it was no big deal because I believe in doing something about a problem and not crying over it.
"It was not my job to carry their luggage. I was cricket manager after all. I did it because I love doing things for teams. Even if I was asked to polish Sachin Tendulkar's shoes, I would do it," said Patil.
The former dasher's term ended within six months of his appointment. Look what he got for doing all that.
