Ex-India selector Akash Lal furious at BCCI at being ignored

As if the error in spelling Sachin Tendulkar's name on a billboard that was mounted beside the electronic scoreboard at the Eden Gardens on Tuesday was not enough, they messed up once again yesterday when they goofed up with his wife Anjali Tendulkar's gender.

Sachin's wife was addressed as ‘Mr Anjali Tendulkar' yesterday

The message on the giant screen during the lunch break read: "Welcome to Mr Anjali Tendulkar and Master Arjun Tendulkar at Eden Garden, Kolkata on the occasion of 199th match of Sachin Tendulkar."u00a0This oversight clearly had the spectators in the club house in splits with one member remarking, "at least we had literate officials in the CAB in the past. I really don't know how to describe the current lot." Given the current state of affairs, the less said the better!

Akash Lal unleashes beamer at BCCI
Former India selector Akash Lal is a furious man these days. The 74-year-old, who was part of the panel which selected Sachin Tendulkar for his debut Test series against Pakistan in 1989, has not been invited to the Eden Gardens for Tendulkar's 199th Test. He minced no words while airing his displeasure to MiD DAY. "I really don't know what to say. The Board lacks grace, they lack courtesy and they certainly don't value those people who are involved with the game."

He has given up on CAB inviting him for the ongoing Test, but still does not know what to expect from the Mumbai Cricket Association which will be hosting Tendulkar's 200th and last Test at the Wankhede from November 14. "As of now, I have not received any communication or invite from Mr Sharad Pawar. I was hoping to get a call, now that he is the MCA president once again. But, I really don't know whether they will call me."

How are you,u00a0Mr Gavaskar?
Kolkata just can't have enough of Sachin Tendulkar. But there are other legends in town, and most of them are part of the commentary team, doing duty in the ongoing Test. Sunil Gavaskar belongs to this elite team, and it was quite natural to see fans standing behind a barricade opposite Gate One, seeking his attention when he reached the Eden Gardens yesterday morning. But the most enthusiastic of this lot clearly was a middle-aged policeman who had finally got the opportunity to see his hero. The moment he saw Gavaskar, he asked: "How are you, sir." Sadly this elicited no reply as the Little Master was rushing in. But the satisfied cop told this correspondent: "I had never seen him. I am very happy now."u00a0