London/Mumbai, Sep 14: The BCCI (Board for Control of Cricket In India) has downplayed the comment made by the CEO of International Cricket Council in which he had described Team India's decision not to attend the ICC Awards function as a "shame".
"Lorgat can say whatever he wants to. We don't want to comment on it," CAO of the BCCI, Ratnakar Shetty told TOI.
BCCI secretary and president-elect N Srinivasan too took the no comments route. "The board has nothing to say on this," he stressed.
The Indian camp had claimed on Monday night when their players' absence was acutely felt at the function that the invite had come too late.
Team manager Shivlal Yadav stated he was told about the event only at 12 noon by an ICC communication officer.
"By then, the players had already left. Some had gone shopping while some others sight-seeing as this was their final day in London," he said.
Lorgat dismissed reports that the team hadn't been informed in advance of the function.
"It was quite disappointing that the Indian team did not attend. I know for a fact that my team had invited it a few months earlier. We probably have confirmation of their attendance. In fact, the date was scheduled around their availability in London," Lorgat said.
"We sent the invitations through the BCCI. Perhaps the question should be asked to the BCCI," he added.
Interestingly, Sharad Pawar, the former BCCI president and current President of the ICC gave away the Garfield Sobers award for the Cricketer of the year to England's Jonathan Trott.
Even senior BCCI functionary Rajiv Shukla was present at the event. Interestingly, the Indian team was put up at a hotel not too far from the venue of the function.
Shukla, when asked about the team skipping the event, was curiously clueless and said he wasn't aware that the Indian team wouldn't be turning up.
"I thought those who have been nominated would be attending the function," said Shukla. He was quick to slip into the garb of indifference, though, when he stated, "It is the prerogative of the players whether to attend the function or not," he added.
Apart from Dhoni, who won the Spirit of cricket award, India had nominations in the form of Sachin Tendulkar (Test Player of the Year) and Gautam Gambhir (ODI Player of the Year).
The ICC CEO said the huge gathering at the ceremony was disappointed not to see Indian players. "In fact, I feel more saddened because of the number of people. Almost everybody in attendance last night was disappointed that India was not represented," Lorgat added.
Lorgat said such behaviour from a top team was not expected.
"It's a great shame. It's very disappointing that not long ago they were the No. 1 Test team in the World. They won the World Cup in such style. And many fans and people had come specifically to seem them.
"The Spirit of Cricket Award went to MS Dhoni for the wonderful leadership he showed by recalling Ian Bell. It was a deserving award and quite a shame that he was not there to accept it," the CEO said.
