The Bharathidasan Pondicherry Cricketers' Forum denied U-19 coach S Venkataraman's claim that its secretary instigated his assault. "Venkataraman has a documented history of disputes and often behaves rudely with local cricketers," said Forum president Senthil Kumaran. The coach sustained a head injury and fractured shoulder, and FIRs have been filed against the accused players.