AUCKLAND, March 12 (PTI): The just-elected office bearers of the BCCI might have shown some interest in improving its relationship with the media, but the Indian cricket team management continued to keep its distance from the touring national media contingent with members of the fourth estate being banned from entering the hotel premises, here today.
While in places like Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth and Hamilton, media people did have access to the hotel lobby, the authorities of the �Heritage Hotel� here are very strict about even letting media people be within 100 metres of the premises.
It is not known whether the authorities are issuing a diktat by the Indian team management, which is known to keep the media at arm�s length, but there was an altercation between reporters of some electronic channels today when they were filming the proceedings of movements in the hotel from across the road.
It was learnt that some of the security staff of the hotel came and told them to move from the area even though the public road or footpath is not under their jurisdiction.
Even as some of the media people wanted to have refreshments at the hotel�s coffee shop, they were told that if they are not staying in the hotel in no uncertain terms they won�t be allowed inside.
Forlan to retire
Tokyo, March 12 (AFP): Uruguay�s most-capped player Diego Forlan, so often his country�s talisman, announced his retirement from international football today.
The 35-year-old striker played 112 games for Uruguay and scored 36 goals, representing the South Americans at three World Cups and helping them lift the Copa America in 2011.
�This was an extremely difficult decision,� Forlan told a news conference at his Japanese club Cerezo Osaka. �But I felt it was time. Everything has a beginning and an end � I felt it was time to make way for a new generation of players. It�s time for the national team to go in a new direction.
�It was a great honour to play for the national team and wear the shirt with such great players,� he added.
�It was my dream since I was a kid to play for Uruguay. I remember watching the players on TV singing the national anthem. It fills me with emotion to think I achieved that dream, to pull on the shirt and sing the national anthem.�
Forlan, who won the Golden Ball as the 2010 World Cup�s best player and finished joint top-scorer with five goals as Uruguay reached the semi-finals in South Africa, insisted he had no plans to quit club football.
