ICC rules out contaminated water behind players' illness

Colombo, Sep 25 (IANS):

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has ruled out bottled mineral water being behind the gastro illness that affected at least three teams in the ongoing World Twenty20 tournament.

Australian daily Herald Sun reported that since ICC’s official beverage partner Pepsi’s brand of mineral water is not sold in Sri Lanka, an alternative brand was provided to the teams for the tournament.

But after the players were struck by illness the brand has been changed.

“Although there is no evidence to suggest that water was the cause of any illness, all products supplied for use in the tournament have been replaced,” an ICC spokesman was quoted as saying by the daily.

Meanwhile, the local firm LAUGFS Aqua System, which was providing water to the teams, has dismissed the allegations against it.

Among those, who were down with illness were Australian bowlers Mitchell Starc and Brad Hogg. They were struck down with flu-like symptoms, gastro and headaches but they got fit for the game against the West Indies at Premadasa Stadium, Saturday.

The New Zealand and South African teams were also affected. New Zealand fast bowler paceman Tim Southee was hospitalised and treated for dehydration.