JOIN USAccustomed to warm reception on their arrival, the Chennai Super Kings players were accorded a rather different welcome on Friday at their hotel in the heart of the City.
Posse of reporters and cameramen greeted them in the hotel entrance for their reaction on the alleged involvement of team principal Gurunath Meiyappan in spot fixing.
The day became all the more tense for Super Kings players and support staff as the day wore on, and they followed the events related to spot-fixing in a nervous huddle in the team hotel.
“We are also getting reports only from television, and nobody has contacted us for anything so far,” a Super Kings personnel said. Many of the Super Kings’ members preferred to stay indoors and follow the developments through TV and social media networks, while a few of them unwound in the hotel pool and gym.
As the day progressed, events began to take an ugly turn with news filtering in about Gurunath’s appearance before Mumbai police, and a possible scrapping of Super Kings franchise, adding more glum to the CSK camp.
Having pointed out the troubles of Gurunath, a Super Kings member said, “As far as the team is concerned, we are focused on the final against either Rajasthan Royals or Mumbai Indians. We aren’t bothered about anything else now,” he said.
Meanwhile, tight security was in place for Friday’s match, adds IANS.
Over 200 closed circuit cameras were installed all around the stadium, with the police keeping a special watch on the lower tier of the BC Roy Club House, the closest to the playing arena, to pick up any communication between the spectators and the players.
Sleuths of the city police and the special task force (STF) including plain-clothed cops kept a hawk’s eye on the proceedings during the playoff between Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians.
Strict vigil was also kept on those present in the VIP boxes at the stadiums.
The players have been advised not to move out of the team hotel without being accompanied by cops.
According to a senior police officer, people other than team members and the support staff have been banned from meeting the players whether at the team hotel or even at the stadium.