Everyone wanted to know if
Virender Sehwag was flustered at the downward turn in his career. Sehwag,
if he was, didn’t betray any sign of discomfort. Not even when somebody
mentioned Nat Puri and the considerable amount he received from the England-based
Indian businessman.
Puri is a lover of Indian cricket. He had announced in 2002 that anyone
who gets a triple hundred in Test cricket, would receive £40,000
from him. So no sooner had Indians reached Nottingham to start their NatWest
Challenge campaign, Puri was ready to part with the sum for Sehwag.
His function in Nottingham was a special affair. The entire Indian team
turned up for the function. Along with the cash prize to Sehwag, there
were £2,500 for Rahul Dravid for his brilliant batting of late.
Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif also received similar amounts for their
performance in the NatWest Trophy final (2002 ). “I gave a cash
award to Harbhajan for his hat-trick but then realised I couldn’t
have left out Anil Kumble also,” said Puri.
SACHIN’S
INJURY
Sachin Tendulkar was missing from the function. But the great cricketer
is staying put in London for the next two weeks. He has undergone another
scan on his tennis-elbow left arm and wants to seek the specialist’s
opinion in London itself. It appears, between his departure and the start
of the first Test against Australia, there would not be many hours left.
BHAJJI’S
TROUBLE WITH MEDIA
Harbhajan Singh has a long memory. He picked up an issue with a sports
anchor of a television channel for having made ‘insulting’
remarks at him while he was recovering from his finger injury. He had
taken part in a fashion show and was apparently jibed at by the channel.
“You could write anything you want about my cricket but what I do
outside the field is my business,” said Harbhajan “I am an
unworthy so please don’t interview me. You don’t need me and
I don’t think I need you,” he added.
