RCA's hospitality to Aus disgusting: Sandeep Patil

Pune: The hospitality extended by Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) to the visiting Australian team was a "disgusting demonstration of servility towards the White Skin" and detrimental to India's prospects, former India Test player Sandeep Patil said on Friday night.

Getting such facilities for an Indian squad touring Australia would be unimaginable. Whenever we went abroad or visited Australia, we never got this kind of exposure in the practice sessions despite requests to that effect, Patil said in response to questions from audience in a live interview on a Marathi television channel.

He was fielding questions on the RCA's state-of-the-art practice and preparation facilities provided to the Aussies, who are being tutored by former Indian team coach Greg Chappell, now attached to the visitors.

Patil also lambasted RCA chief and BCCI Vice-President Lalit Modi, saying if India's performance during the series suffers he would have to share the blame for going out of the way to serve the interests of the Australians.

Patil ridiculed BCCI President Sharad Pawar for justifying the RCA's move on the ground of Indian culture of hospitality. This hospitality amounts to feeding the guests and starving the hosts, he remarked, adding it appeared that whenever "we encounter a white man, a deep rooted servility takes hold of us".

The explosive batsman said he had never seen such facilities being offered to Indian team during 140 tours abroad in which he represented the country.

Calling Chappell a clever man, Patil said BCCI's laid back attitude could damage India's prospects.