Fans shout slogans and burn an effigy of the Indian cricket team during a protest in the eastern Indian city of Patna on Sunday. Former players, the media and fans rounded on the Indian team a day after their shock five-wicket defeat to neighbouring Bangladesh. - ReutersMUMBAI, India, (Reuters):
INDIAN CRICKET board president Sharad Pawar has slammed sections of the country's media for stirring up unrest following the national team's shock defeat to Bangladesh in their World Cup opener.
Irate fans hurled stones at a house being built by wicketkeeper Mahendra Dhoni in his hometown of Ranchi and burned effigies of captain Rahul Dravid and coach Greg Chappell after that defeat.
India rebounded on Monday with a record victory over Bermuda but still need to beat former champions Sri Lanka on Friday to ensure they qualify for the next round.
Blame game
"A section of the electronic media goes to town on the blame game, trying to find out who is responsible for the defeat. It is not good," Pawar was quoted by local media as saying yesterday.
"The media gives disproportionate coverage to cricket and it goes a long way in raising expectations. They praise the team sky high when it wins ... some times things go wrong."
India's World Cup frenzy has been fuelled by television channels and media outlets touting the team as favourites. Since their arrival in the Caribbean last month, India's every move has been tracked minute-by-minute.
"Right now what is needed is to lift the morale of the cricketers because they are too tense. Cricket is a game of chance and luck," said Pawar, who is also an influential central minister.
Local media reported yesterday that opener Virender Sehwag's house near New Delhi was put under police security following the attack on Dhoni's house.
"It is the media which made him (Dhoni) into a hero, the attack is most unfortunate."
