Dirty boots result in lighter wallets

Two members of the Indian cricket team landed in Auckland today, and were $200 lighter in the pocket before they boarded a plane for their first base in Christchurch.

Harbhajan Singh, the highly-talented off-spinner, and Virender Sehwag, the dashing opening batsman, were both fined $200 by customs officials because they had dirty cricket boots in their luggage.

However, the Indian team management were not visibly upset by the fines. Mr N R Chaudhury, the Indian manager, said he understood the reasons for the fines - "these things happen."