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The Raj is over, Bindra reminds the English
"England is the most difficult team to host," says the Punjab Cricket Association chief.
England captain Andrew Flintoff's decision to break the convention of the customary pre-Test match press conference at the stadium prompted Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) President IS Bindra to remind him that the British Raj was over.
Bindra was so angry that he threatened to write to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on the issue, pointing out that the customary press conference was not held in the PCA Stadium conference hall as per convention.
When the PCA treasurer GS Walia spoke to the English team's media manager Andrew Walpole for sending either Flintoff or someone else for the press conference, he refused saying that the time was too short.
England would hold the press conference at the team hotel in nearby Chandigarh, Walpole told Walia.
When the news reached Bindra, also a former Indian cricket board chief, he blew a fuse.
"England is the most difficult team to host. They want things in abundance," he said.
"When we tour there, they don't treat us well. England sill thinks that the days of the (British) Raj are still not over over," he told reporters, adding that he would write to the ECB on this issue.
Walia said when Walpole said the time was too short for the media briefing: "I told him that they (players) could take their time and send the player at an appointed time. But they refused, saying that they would hold the conference at their team hotel."
