Board of Control for Cricket in India president Jagmohan Dalmiya on Sunday announced that Indian players will not give interviews or interact with mediapersons during the World Cup, unless in the event of some emergency.
The Indian skipper and coach would meet the media before and after the matches, Dalmiya said adding the BCCI's media manager Amrit Mathur would accompany the team for the benefit of members of the fourth estate.
Dalmiya, who had a two-and-half hour meeting with the team management during which various administrative matters,
logistics and preparations of the team were discussed, said the players' wives and girl friends will be barred from joining them until they reach the second round.
Dalmiya also analysed with captain Sourav Ganguly, coach John Wright, the team physiotherapist and trainer the New Zealand tour.
The Indian players, apart from utilising the intervening period between the New Zealand tour and the South Africa campaign for rest and relaxation, had also undergone workouts as per a schedule prepared by physical trainer Le Roux. he said in Kolkata.
The BCCI president reiterated that the team's showing in New Zealand could not be taken as the yardstick as 'even the hosts struggled to notch up 100 runs on the fast and bouncy tracks'.
To help matters, the BCCI has engaged the services of a South African sports psychologist to help the players recover from their disastrous New Zealand tour.
The team members, who leave for the tournament on Wednesday, will hold sessions with Sandy Gordon during their 12-day preparatory camp in South Africa, BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya told reporters in Kolkata.
India lost both their Tests inside three days and conceded a seven-match one-day series 5-2 due to repeated batting failures on seaming pitches on their December-January New Zealand trip.
The BCCI has sought the services of 24 South African bowlers to help the team at the nets, Dalmiya said.
Expressing optimism about the team's prospects, Dalmiya said, "Our boys are capable of winning the Cup. We have a good squad."
The 1983 champions are in Group A along with defending champions Australia, England, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Netherlands and Namibia.
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