Team skips High Commission dinner for Dhoni event

Members of the Indian cricket team skipped a reception that was to be hosted by Indian High Commissioner Nalin Surie on July 18 to attend a fund raising event for the Sakshi Foundation, which is run by skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his wife Sakshi for under-privileged children.

High Commissioner Surie has reported the matter to the Ministry of External Affairs for further action at its end.

Though it is mandatory under rules formulated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for a touring Indian side to accept such formal invitations, members of the Indian squad, including Sachin Tendulkar, preferred to attend the fundraising event.

The event resulted in a collection of 450,000 pounds for the Sakshi Foundation.

According to a Times of India report, the Indian High Commission had distributed about 100 invitation cards for the get together of over 200 people on the lawns of the high commissioner's residence at Kensington Palace Gardens.

Leading personalities from cricketing and diplomatic circles were on the list of invitees.

The newspaper quoted N Srinivasan, secretary of the BCCI, as saying that he was aware of Dhoni and company not honouring the board's commitment to attend the event hosted by High Commissioner Surie.

"Not to my knowledge," Srinivasan said over the phone.

He, then, vaguely alleged that "dates were changed", seeming to maintain that the BCCI was not to blame, before abruptly disconnecting the phone.

However, the report received by the MEA clearly records that the BCCI had suggested July 18 as the date suitable for the Indian side. South Block has also been informed in writing that it was Srinivasan himself who spoke to the high commission.

According to sources, the Indian team is now embarassed and is waiting from a fresh date from High Commissioner Surie's side to make amends for skipping the July 18 event.

Sources here have said that the dates were finalised in consultation with the BCCI and it was changed to accomodate Dhoni's event at the last minute.

Sources said the Indian team had requested the embassy to change the dates for the reception, as the global launch of the Dhoni''s charity was scheduled on July 18.

Sources further said that the team would attend the official dinner during the fourth Test at the Kennington Oval in Surrey.