India's unauthorised Pakistani masseur sacked

A Pakistani masseur who accompanied the Indian team during the Asia Cup has been ordered to stay away by the BCCI, who had not authorised his appointment. SK Nair, the secretary of the Indian board, was furious with Sohail Abbas Khan for wearing the team T-shirt and travelling on the same bus with the side. Nair rebuked Sohail for his behaviour, and also cautioned MN Dorairajan, the team manager for the Asia Cup, for not dealing with the situation earlier.

Nair, speaking to Wisden Cricinfo immediately after his return to Trivandrum after the Asia Cup, said: "He [the masseur] got acquainted with some of our players during the Pakistan tour and was doing some personal attendance for some of our players. He was there in Sri Lanka also. Somehow he managed to get one Indian practice T-shirt. Probably one of our players might have given it to him earlier."

When asked why he was only removed just before the final, Nair said, "His presence in Sri Lanka came to our notice very late and the manager was told to take care of this problem and see that he was not allowed in the dressing-room. When I reached there the day before the tournament and saw him I personally cautioned him that he was not supposed to be in the dressing-room. I told him that he was not to go with the team during the time of the match or practice sessions.

"We have a physio and trainer and all that and this man is not a part of the support staff. I told the manager he should exercise control over the matter and if anything further happens it is his responsibility. I also asked him not to wear the Indian uniform which is meant only for the Indian team and their support staff."

Nair clarified that the board had not appointed Sohail in any capacity. "He is not a part of the Indian team or the staff, but he is acquainted with the players. I understand he is acquainted with players of many teams, not just India, and when they visit Pakistan he goes to the hotel room and does massage. He has friends in many teams. He came to Sri Lanka on his own and I understand he was staying with some former player. Officially he cannot wear the uniform or travel in the team bus. These are against the board's policy and since I saw this personally I stepped in."

When asked how Sohail gained access to the dressing-room without proper accreditation, Nair proffered, "Probably the security people could not apprehend him because he was wearing the official uniform."