Gavaskar kept waiting outside US stadium, security head apologises

'The delay was not intentional, it was a matter of verifying the credentials to enter the gate.'

Mumbai

: Sunil Gavaskar was kept waiting outside the match venue during one of the two T20 games between India and West Indies in the USA last week.

It is not the first instance when Gavaskar was denied "easy entry" at the cricket stadium. The Little Master had surrendered his Life Membership when the stewards didn't allow him through Grace Gates at Lord's in 1990. But only at the insistence from the late president Michael Colin Cowdrey (MCC) several years later, Gavaskar had decided to take up the membership again.

Luckily, the issue didn't go "out of hands" when the 67-year-old cricketer-turned-commentator’s entry was delayed as the MS Dhoni-led unit took on two-time World T20 champions West Indies at the Central Broward Regional Park in Fort Lauderhill.

"The delay was not intentional, it was a matter of verifying the credentials to enter the gate, Mr. Gavasakar was stopped by the (inner) security firm operating the gates, " Captain Andrew Dunbar, who headed the security operations at the facility for both the teams, said.

"On behalf of everyone involved, I do apologise for Mr. Gavasakar getting delayed at the gate."

The Jamaica-born Captain Dunbar has seen several matches at the Sabina Park. However, has not watched him play.

"I did not have the privilege to see Mr. Gavasakar play," he further added.

"If I had a chance to interact with Mr. Gavasakar, I would certainly enjoy talking about cricket in general with him," the cricket-fan Dunbar added.

Team India's debut at the Florida fetched many fans but they were controllable.

"It (controlling them) was not difficult at all. The Indian fans were great, and easy to interact with. Both teams impressed me. As a cricket fan, I was impressed by the support of India fans, even though it was very short notice to the play in Broward County," he signed off.