08 January,2011 06:12 AM IST | | Harit N Joshi
West Indies batting legend Brian Lara could well be the biggest gainer in this weekend's Indian Premier League auction at Bangalore. However, the southpaw, who is making a comeback to competitive cricket, was a 'big disappointment' according to sources in the defunct rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL).
Below par
Lara, who retired from all forms of cricket in April 2007, signed up with the ICL three months later. The Mumbai Champs skipper however, did not live up to expectations, scoring just 31 runs at 6.20 in six matches. Lara is in the highest reserve price of $400,000 for today's IPL auction.
"I was excited to share the dressing room with such a legendary cricketer. But Lara was a big disappointment. He was not accessible at all. He would not talk to us when we approached him. We never felt comfortable with him. I have played with Sachin Tendulkar too, but he is so approachable," said one of Lara's Mumbai Champs teammate.
Not a good buy
"If I were an IPL team owner, I wouldn't bid for Lara. I don't think any team would benefit from him," he added.
A Mumbai Champs support staff member said Lara was "extremely moody".u00a0
Another source, who had seen Lara from close quarters during his ICL stint, said the Trinidadian was 'lethargic'. "He was not a regular at practice sessions. No one could dictate terms to Lara. He was lethargic in his approach. He wasn't an inspiration to the team either," said a source.
Lara could not be contacted for a reaction to these comments. ICL board member Kiran More was diplomatic: "He is one of the greatest cricketers and we hoped he would come good in the ICL, but that wasn't the case," said the former India wicketkeeper.
