28 villages in India ban Cricket

India's pathetic performance in the World Cup has left Cricket Crazy Indians disappointed. But twenty-eight villages in the north Indian state of Haryana have gone a step further and imposed a blanket ban on cricket, barely two weeks after the national team's World Cup first-round exit.

Head of Dadan Panchayat, Tewa Singh, says those who go against the decision will have to face a "social boycott".

India's World Cup-frenzy had been fuelled by television channels and media outlets touting the team as favourites.

A resident of the village, Pankaj, says all residents have taken the decision.

"We will stop playing it (cricket). We will play kabaddi, football, volleyball and wrestle instead," he said.

Irate fans and several former players have called for large-scale changes to the World Cup team, finalists in the last edition, after defeats to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in the Caribbean.

Haryana is the state which produced the country's greatest fast bowler Kapil Dev.

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