Sharad Pawar, the Indian board (BCCI) president, has hit out at sections of the nation's media for provoking unrest after India's loss to Bangladesh in their World Cup opener. Incensed fans hurled stones at an under-construction house owned by Mahendra Singh Dhoni in his hometown of Ranchi, while effigies of Rahul Dravid and Greg Chappell were burnt, and Pawar has condemned such agitation.

"A section of the electronic media goes to town on the blame game, trying to find out who is responsible for the defeat," Pawar said. "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... sometimes things go wrong."

"Right now what is needed is to lift the morale of the cricketers because they are too tense," Pawar, also an influential government minister, added. "Cricket is a game of chance and luck."

India beat Bermuda by 257 runs in their second game, but still need to beat Sri Lanka on March 23 to ensure they qualify for the next round.