Team India logistics manager Satheesh sent home

The Indian cricket team’s logistics manager M A Satheesh has been sent back home amidst controversy over India Cements employees being given positions as support staff with the national side.

While Satheesh was conspicuous by his absence from the training session on Saturday, the team's media manager Dr R N Baba sent an e-mail late on Saturday night Satheesh was being sent back home. However, the mail did not specify any reasons for the move but it was clear that being an India Cements employee, his position was under the scanner for some time.

"I would like to inform all of you that Mr M A Satheesh (logistics manager of the Indian team) will be going back to India as soon as the replacement for him joins the team. There has been a delay in the visa process for his replacement due to the weekend," Baba stated in the e-mail.

With N Srinivasan, former chief of the Indian cricket board (BCCI), stepping aside after the Supreme Court's verdict, the position of India Cements employee Satheesh was being questioned.

Satheesh, in fact replaced Russel Radhakrishnan, who was also from Tamil Nadu Cricket Association. Russell till last year was seen as media manager of Chennai Super Kings.

Dr Baba is also a TNCA official but not an India Cements employee.

With Satheesh's removal, Team India now has two India Cements employees -- skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and off-break bowler Ravichandran Ashwin.