'Can you change my photo?'

Cricketers have long been unhappy with things written about them in the papers. Viv Richards famously stormed into the Antigua press box during a Test against England in 1990 and threatened to sort things out after an uncomplimentary article. At the 2009 World Twenty20, MS Dhoni paraded the entire team at a press conference as a 'show of unity' and read a prepared message to the 'people of India and Indian cricket fans worldwide' after reports of a rift in the team.

Regarding Cricinfo's coverage, the most common complaint from players seems to be about the mugshots on their profile pages. On Sunday, I wanted to speak to Bangladesh fast bowler Mashrafe Mortaza on his progress from knee surgeries, and as I was introducing myself to him after the team's net session, left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak walked past. When he overheard where I worked, he perked up.

"Cricinfo?" he asked eying my media accreditation badge. "Can you change my photo?" before adding for good measure, "Put in a nice one."

It is a scene which has played out several times in the Indian domestic circuit as well. During this season's Ranji Trophy semi-final, one of the Karnataka players walked up and said in Kannada, nan photo karaabagide (my photo is horrible) before listing which of his team-mates' profile pictures weren't up to the mark. And at the final in Mysore, one of the youngsters in the Mumbai team sought my mail-id and phone number so that he could send in a portrait of his choice.

My colleagues also receive frequent photo-change requests, which may be in part due to vanity but the profile page with the bio-data, career stats and a write-up on the player doubles up as a ready-made resume for potential employers and marketers. Even the media guide handed out to journalists covering the Asia Cup has exactly the same player portraits for all four teams as Cricinfo.