The players and organisers were in quite a hurry to start the deciding T20 between India and New Zealand. So much so that no national anthem was sung before the game commenced at the Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday.
Admitting the lapse, Jayesh George, honorary secretary of the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA), says, “Yes, that was a mistake in our part.”
The match had been delayed by two-and-a-half hours, and had been reduced to eight overs a side. “At the ground, we were in a hurry to start the match and forgot to play the anthems,” Jayesh added.
“Even the players or match officials didn’t remind us. It’s a serious lapse on our part and I apologise (to the nation). This will never happen in the future again.”
Jayesh did, however, laud the ground staff for working well. “They did an excellent job. At one time, we felt that the match wouldn’t take place.”
The host association had also invited ex-players, including S. Sreesanth, but the controversial former player did not turn up, since he was living in Kochi, Jayesh added.
