BCCI hits out at Aussies for sledging Indian team

The Cricket Board today hit out at the Australian cricket team for indulging in sledging and provoking the Indians, saying such behaviour by the hosts was unnecessary and not good for the game.

The Cricket Board today hit out at the Australian cricket team for indulging in sledging and provoking the Indians, saying such behaviour by the hosts was unnecessary and not good for the game.

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"The way the Australians are behaving is not good (for the game). They should not sledge our team members. It's not necessary," said BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah today.

Shah was reacting to the happenings during the Sydney tri-series tie yesterday in which Aussie all-rounder Andrew Symonds provoked young Indian fast bowler Ishant Sharma for which the latter was docked 15 per cent of his match fees by ICC match referee Jeff Crowe.

"They (Aussies) should restrain from such things and not get into another problem", the BCCI official said. But he did not comment on the complaint lodged by Indian manager Vimal Soni about the Aussies' behaviour with the match referee.

Shah defended Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni for his comments after yesterday's loss to Australia wherein the wicketkeeper had asked the senior players to start delivering the goods.

"He's the captain and whatever advise he (Dhoni) wants to give (to his teammates) he can give," the BCCI secretary said.

Shah also said the World Cup under-19 team which has reached the semi-finals in Kuala Lumpur would be protected from being distracted by franchises eager to recruit them for the April 18-June 1 Indian Premier League.

"We don't want any distraction for our cricketers and the board will decide which team they will go to," he said.