The Indian team seems to be making most of its time in Goa [Images], the place renowned for its lovely beaches.

Like on Saturday, the players made merry on the beach, which is just off the team hotel. A large crowd gathered at the beach to watch the players enjoy themselves in the water.

Some foreign tourists seemed perplexed about why people wanted to see the cricketers playing in the water.

The whole team was in the water except for pacer S Sreesanth [Images], coach Greg Chappell [Images] and physio John Gloster.

Sreesanth had forgotten to remove his contact lenses, hence he did not venture into the water. Gloster said he did not like the water. Wonder what was Chappell's reason?

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India is known to be generous hosts, especially when it comes to big teams like Australia, Pakistan and England [Images].

It is all but natural, as a big series generates huge amount of revenue for the hosts; but the people who bring the game to the public are ignored.

It's common knowledge that the media in India is always left to fend for themselves with no proper facilites, except for a few venues like Mohali.

Scribes had a forgettable time at Faridabad, where even a few of them were manhandled by the police authorities.

So when ICC [Images] president Ehsan Mani announced on Sunday the groupings for the ICC Champions Trophy, to be held in October, it was but natural that a question on the facilities for the media popped up.

"You know what the facilities are, so why don't you e-mail us with a list of requirements," replied Jon Long, Corporate Communications Manager for the ICC, when asked whether the media would be given good, basic facilities.

"We can assure you of good facilities if not the best. We know how you guys work and we will try and give you the best. We will work in consultation with the BCCI to try and provide you with good facilities," he said.

Let's hope the ICC can teach the BCCI a lesson or two in providing facilities to the media.

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Cricket fever in Goa has touched a new high with a huge demand for tickets, which are being sold openly in black market outside the ground.

But our taxi driver, Anthony, seemed unmoved by this whole cricket thing. For him, watching football matches at the Nehru stadium in Fatorda is a better experience than cricket.

"I work as a taxi driver; so why would I waste my whole day to watch cricket. Football matches are better as they finish in two hours," he said.

"Salgaocar is my favourite team in the NFL," he declared, as we discussed the National Football League along the way to the team hotel.

For a brief moment even I forgot that I was in Goa to cover cricket!