NEW DELHI, Aug 2: An Indian under-15 team going to England for a series of matches would in normal circumstances evoked considerable interest. More so because the last time an India under-15 team went out, it won a Junior World Cup, under Reetinder Sodhi, who is now knocking on the doors of the senior national side.But an under-15 team that is leaving tonight for a couple of `Tests' and one-dayers is surprisingly leaving under near secrecy. To date, not much has been mentioned about the tour, or the `selected' boys. Obviously, there is a larger tussle going on somewhere.Almost two months ago the word was out that such a team was to go to England. BD Gandhi, who for the last three decades had been the secretary of the School Games Federation of India, had arranged the tour. But this May, he failed to get re-elected to the post, and the man replacing him was Satpal, the Deputy Director in Delhi Administration.A few weeks later, Gandhi announced that trials would be held in Ludhiana to select the teamto tour England. Interestingly, a few days later Satpal, too, announced trials, but in Delhi. However, Satpal later `postponed' the trials but with an assurance that they would `soon' be held and hence asked some parents not to send their wards to Ludhiana.Some officials, who admitted to some clash between the two factions, one led by Gandhi and the other by Satpal, felt that the problem would be solved before the team left. But it did not. And so the boys `selected' in Ludhiana are going tonight.Meanwhile, Gandhi, it is learnt, managed to get a clearance at "no cost to Government." The players are also believed to have been asked to pay Rs 50,000 towards the tour. At the same time, some parents believe that this amount will be later reimbursed by the respective state sports departments from where the players have been selected.While the question of reimbursement has not been made official, many of the parents hoping that an exposure will do their young ones good have forked out the money. Satpal,when asked about the tour, said he has nothing to do with the tour."I am not even aware that a team is going to England," he said.Some parents, who had not sent their children to Ludhiana are reportedly approaching the Government to intervene and some have even threatened legal action. But with the team leaving tonight. it seems little can be done to stop it now. maybe that's why all this secrecy.Some local officials feel that the ongoing tussle in the SGFI between Gandhi, the former secretary and Satpal, the current one, is affecting the Federation and it is the boys who are suffering. It is cricket today, it will be some other sport, tomorrow, they say.The team's first match in England will be a three-day game against England under-15 at Arundale, from August 6.
