No IPL if you blog your cheer

A South African web-site on Tuesday said that a Protean cheerleader in the ongoing Indian Premier League has been sent home for blogging on the event.

The report says that 22-year-old Gabriella Pasqualotto, who was part of the Mumbai Indians cheering contingent, was asked to leave after a cricketer complained to the chairperson of IPL. Pasqualotto's manager was informed of the matter and she was sent back immediately.

Pasqualotto, according to the same report, was also approached by the owners of an Indian website who asked her to blog for them. After two blogs, a fellow cheer-girl tipped off the cricketers in the Mumbai Indian team.

Though the South African's write-up's mostly dealt with her time in the country, her experience and the glitzy world of IPL, it is reported that she also mentioned that 'cricketers are not so innocent in the after-match parties.' "The men see your face, then your b**bs, then your a**, then your b**bs again! As we walk all you hear is IPL, IPL with a little head jingle," she wrote in one of her blogs which was later removed.

Pasqualotto also wrote: "Old Graeme Smith will make eyes at anything - while his girlfriend is walking behind him."

Another entry read: "The Aussies are naughty. These cricketers are the most loose (men) I have ever encountered." "I've still got to stay here a long time, so I have to keep by my list of hints: Beware of cricketers!" she said.

Craig Livingstone, spokesman for former South African captain Smith, told Beeld there was no reason to comment, while Cricket South Africa media spokesman Michael Owen-Smith said it was a matter for the IPL only.

The cheergirls, before the start of the event, had been told to conduct themselves according to the team rules and to not fraternise with the cricketers. Pasqualotto, though, has said that the entire issue at hand is hypocritical as according to her, many cheergirls in the event have gotten 'intimate' with some of the cricketers despite the warnings.

"It's a joke. There were cameras everywhere at these after-parties watching what they got up to. The guys treated us like pieces of meat," she was quoted as saying. Her argument though has fallen on deaf ears as she says she was forced to return without cashing her traveller's cheques or even given time to buy a phone card.