Manpreet Singh Gony

Karachi: Team India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was juggling mangoes (he’s very fond of them) when The Telegraph asked if he knew about the sensational press conference called by quick Manpreet Singh Gony’s mother, Mohinder Kaur, back home.

It was around 8.30pm (local time) on Tuesday and Dhoni was moving about on the Pearl Continental floor almost exclusively reserved for his team.

“No… I’m not aware at all,” Dhoni replied casually. He was stunned when the details were provided. “I can’t believe it…”

Manager Arindam Ganguly couldn’t believe it either. In fact, the Tripura boss didn’t even know that young Gony was married.

“Arre… Is that so? Could the problem be the reason why Gony didn’t attend today’s optional nets too? Let me check with Gary (Kirsten, the coach),” Ganguly said.

The manager and the coach had a closed-door meeting for almost five minutes before the former emerged from the coach’s room.

“Let me speak to Gony,” Ganguly remarked and headed for the other end of the floor. As he neared Gony’s room, he ran into the Gang of Four — Irfan Pathan, Suresh Raina, Rudra Pratap Singh and Piyush Chawla.

“Koi news hai kya?” asked one of the quartet. For the next couple of minutes the Irfans and the manager spoke almost in a whisper, arousing the curiosity (“kya baat hai?”) of the Special Force commandos and plainclothesmen assigned for protection.

It’s while Ganguly and the Irfans were talking that one of the two elevators stopped and out came the man at the centre of it all, the strapping Gony.

Not wanting to embarrass their teammate, the Irfans didn’t say anything, but the manager said “Gony, tujhse baat karna hai… Apne room me chalo…”

Gony (Sreesanth’s replacement both in the recent tri-series and the Asia Cup), who’d gone to a provision store besides the hotel, then took Ganguly to his room.

They were together for five-six minutes.

This Reporter knocked once the manager came out. Despite the storm, Gony appeared calm. “I don’t want to comment… Mujhe kuch nahin bolna… The Asia Cup is at an important stage and I’m focused on my cricket…”

Asked whether he was hurt by his mother’s allegation (that he’d threatened to kill her), Gony replied “Woh to bolti rahengi… Mujhe lekin kuch nahin bolna… I’ve got to look after my game… That’s the priority here.”

State-mate and the Team India vice-captain, Yuvraj Singh, felt Gony should be allowed to concentrate on cricket. “I don’t know his problem, but it’s a family matter and people must leave the boy alone…”

But, whatever the provocation, it’s Gony’s mother who has thrown a family issue out in the public.