Parliament called Tuesday for security for India's beleaguered cricket team as angry fans seemed to be in no mood to forgive their team for its poor showing at the World Cup.
MPs raised the issue of attacks on the homes of players in the World Cup tournament after their loss Saturday to Australia.
India faces a make-or-break match against Zimbabwe in Harare Wednesday.
Speaker Manohar Joshi said the "fullest protection" should be given to players.
"They should be given the fullest protection so that their minds are free and they do better. We wish them good luck," Joshi said.
"Nothing should be done to put
players under pressure," added cricketer-turned-MP Kirti Azad, a member of Kapil Dev's team that lifted the 1983 World Cup.
Dejected fans took out their frustrations Sunday by throwing oil and black paint at the house of batsman Mohammad Kaif in the northern town of Allahabad.
Members of his family, who were asleep during the incident, have requested security cover.
Police in cricket-mad Calcutta have provided security to relatives of captain Saurav Ganguly, vice captain Rahul Dravid and bowlers Anil Kumble and Javagal Srinath following the incident at Kaif's home.
Newspapers Tuesday contained acid editorials dissecting the team's performance and splashed photographs of fans torching effigies of their former darlings in protest of the team's nine-wicket rout Saturday by world champions Australia and its lacklustre win over minnows The Netherlands last week.
Much of the invective, however, was directed at the players' personal business dealings, an issue of ongoing concern among Indians.
Cartoonists lampooned Ganguly's men as being more concerned with winning plum off-field corporate endorsements than matches and thousands of e-mails and mobile phone SMS messages were circulating calling for a boycott of products promoted by the "men in blue."
Some sponsors, sensing the public mood, said they were considering yanking television commercials featuring the cricketers, who have superstar status in this billionstrong country.
"The Indian team is not wearing the nation's cap, they are wearing Pepsi, LG, Coke and Hero Honda caps," said Santosh Mangaonkar, an advertising professional and ardent cricket fan from the western commercial hub of Bombay.
"They are playing only for money and nothing else."
India slumped against Australia,
with their much vaunted batting lineup collapsing with just 125 runs on the board on Saturday.
In their first match against Holland, India failed to shine and were dismissed for 204 runs by the Dutch before the end of their allotted 50 overs.
Ganguly's team need a win against Zimbabwe on Wednesday to stay in contention for a place in the Super Six and the desperate situation has forced a reshuffle of the struggling batting order.
Sachin Tendulkar will be retained to open but out-of-form Ganguly slipped down the order. Batting sensation Virender Sehwag, who batted at number three in the first two games, will partner the little master.
Heath Streak's Zimbabwe are now well-placed to join Australia in the Super Six from Pool A, leaving India, Pakistan and England to battle for the third spot.
A clash between arch rivals India and Pakistan March 1 at the Centurian Supersport is being billed as the clash of Titans amid reports the tie could see 200 million dollars in wagers changing hands.
Meanwhile, police in Calcutta busted a cricket betting racket, arresting two bookies and seizing documents revealing bets worth 7.5 million rupees (156,000 USD).