The latest comments by Nasser Hussain, while commentating on the abandoned first ODI has created a stir that is likely to put India's tour at risk. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has threatened to call off the tour and some reports even indicate that a private Jet is on standby to take the Indian cricket team home. For those concerned about the health and safety of Indian patients....err....cricketers, the Jet is staffed with the world's best sports doctors and hospital facilities.
After alleging earlier in the week that India had "3-4 very good fielders" - a comment that has no basis in facts - questions were raised as to whether Nasser Hussain was on the BCCI pay roll along with Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri.
Any such suspicion was laid to rest by what happened today. Even before the dust had settled over the controversy over his "3-4 very good fielders" comments, Nasser Hussain has created another one by referring to the Indian Team Bus, as "An Ambulance".
His comments came as Sky TV was covering the toss for the 1st ODI and announcing the unavailability of Sachin Tendulkar due to injury. "As I walked into the media centre, I saw India's team bus and it definitely resembled an ambulance."
The BCCI was quick to issue a press release, demanding an apology. Indians across the board have termed Hussain's comments as "highly offensive and insulting." Within hours, the controversy seemed to erupt like a volcano with television channels adding fuel to the fire.
Harsha Bhogle, the cross cultural expert via his tweets has urged that Indians to see better sense.
"In the West an ambulance is a highly effective and responsive vehicle; unlike in India (contd)"
"Where pizza delivery vans and marriage processions have a higher social standing (contd)."
"I am standing up for Nasser here. He was complimenting India here."
When asked if Naseer's comments would have anything to do with the number of injuries the Indian side had endured on this tour, a BCCI spokesperson said, "We have not heard anything from any doctors that the team needs an ambulance. As far as we are concerned, the Indian team bus is a bus and not an ambulance. If a medical doctor or Dhoni, asks for an ambulance, we will consider the matter in the next meeting.”