/ 22 January 2007

Man arrested for slapping India coach

A man was arrested on Monday for slapping India coach Greg Chappell as he left an airport in eastern India with his cricket team, a police officer said.

The incident occurred as more than two dozen demonstrators protested against the team’s arrival because no players from Orissa state were included in India’s cricket squad, the officer said on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to talk to reporters.

One of the protesters lunged forward and hit Chappell as he left the airport, the officer said. Police overpowered the man and he was later charged with assaulting Chappell, a former Australia Test captain.

Chappell was not immediately available for comment.

The India cricket team arrived on Monday in Bhubaneshwar, the capital of Orissa state, ahead of Wednesday’s second limited-overs international against the West Indies.

India lead the series 1-0 after winning the opening match in the western Indian city of Nagpur on Sunday. — Sapa-AP