| The Associated Press, Tue 18 Feb 2003 |
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NEW DELHI, India (AP) — India's prime minister Tuesday admonished violent cricket fans who burned players' effigies and attacked their homes after the team's poor performance at the World Cup.
Hours before Atal Bihari Vajpayee made the rare statement, armed police were deployed in several cities outside the homes of some top Indian cricketers.
``I am dismayed at the improper manner in which cricket fans in some places have given vent to their feelings at the performance of our team in the World Cup matches so far,'' Vajpayee said in a statement.
``Victory and defeat are all a part of the game. Sportsmanship lies in showing confidence in our team and cheering it to do better.''
Riot police joined regular police officers outside the West Bengal state home of team captain Sourav Ganguly.
In Bangalore, the capital of southern Karnataka state, armed police were ordered to guard vice captain Rahul Dravid and veteran bowlers Javagal Srinath and Anil Kumble, United News of India reported.
Authorities ordered the heightened security after motor oil and black paint were hurled at the family home of batsman Mohammad Kaif early Sunday, after India lost to Australia by nine wickets, posting its lowest World Cup score of 125 runs.
Coming off a poor one-day series against the West Indies at home and a disastrous tour of New Zealand, the Indians barely beat the Netherlands in their first World Cup outing in South Africa.
After the loss to Australia, India traveled to Zimbabwe for a crucial one-dayer, set for Wednesday.
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BBC World News (Britain)