Three women gynaecologists appointed to look after the all-male Bangladeshi and Pakistani cricketers have been dropped after being mocked by the local press. "We have withdrawn them following unkind remarks published by a section of the press," a Bangladeshi official said. "A team of seven doctors including three women gynaecologists was appointed to look after the cricketers of both the teams during the Test and a one-day match in Chittagong," explained Shahed Asgar Chowdhury, the general secretary of Chittagong District Sports Association (CDSA). "The gynaecologists were not appointed to look after any players, but they were just honoured for their long association with CDSA."

But less than 24 hours earlier the CDSA had defended its decision to appoint the women, arguing that the gynaecologists were also doctors.

When the news broke about the appointment the local media reacted with a mixture of anger and ridicule, with accusations flying around that they had only been appointed to enable them to get free passes for the match.

The denials of the CDSA lost some of their force when it was revealed that one of the gynaecologists at the match was the wife of the chief co-ordinator of cricket in Chittagong.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd