Lara dismisses late night party led to defeat against India

Montego Bay, Mar 11 (UNI) West Indies captain Brian Lara has dismissed charges that late night partying by team members was the reason behind their embarrassing defeat in warm-up game against India.

''Well, first of all, I don't know anything about it. I doubt that with the sort of importance of this tournament that that would have been the case,'' Lara said.

''I am sure that if the management, Clive Lloyd or Bennett King, know about it they would definitely filter it down to myself.

''I am not going to go there, but something such as that is not what we want to portray. The guys know and they are very professional in understanding what is necessary to perform the next day,'' the 37-year-old world record-holding batsman said.

Following the home side's nine-wicket loss, there were suggestions that team members were seen at a Montego Bay club partying until as late as 3 a.m local time.

''Until proven that that is not the case, I am going to say the source from where the information came may be wrong. I don't belief it happened,'' Lara said.

UNI