Kirsten says players unfit, overweight: reports

Several players of the Indian team which made a humiliating exit from the Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies are overweight, unfit and indisciplined, reports quoted coach Gary Kirsten as complaining.

Kirsten is preparing a report for the BCCI outlining these and other issues plaguing the Indian team, the reports said.

When contacted, BCCI spokesman Rajiv Shukla denied reports that the Board has received any e-mail from Kirsten.

"We have not received anything from Kirsten in this regard," Shukla said.

An angry Kirsten reportedly held one-on-one meeting with captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Gautam Gambhir, Ashish Nehra, Rohit Sharma and Zaheer Khan before preparing a damning report on the players' fitness and behaviour.

The South African apparently believes that as many as eight players in the squad are overweight and three of them are in fact unfit for international cricket.

He is particularly unhappy with the fitness of Yuvraj and Rohit and the former South African opener in fact feels he himself is fitter than some of the players, reports said.

Kirsten reportedly mentions the names of the players who are seeking more 'freedom' for nightlife.

Kirsten is unhappy with the team selection and feels slighted as the selectors did not bother to consult him while picking the squad, according to the reports.

Apparently, he, along with bowling coach Eric Simmons and mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton wanted Ishant Sharma in the side but the selectors thought otherwise.

Kirsten is also unhappy for he feels the Indian team is content with its Test and ODI rankings and the players lack the commitment to be the Twenty20 world champions.