Sourav Ganguly, captain of the Indian cricket team, left a tea party hosted by President A P J Abdul Kalam to catch a flight though the President was still at the function.

"This is gross violation of protocol," a senior official at Rashtrapati Bhavan told rediff.com after the party.

The President had thrown the party in honour of the team which finished runners-up at the World Cup in southern Africa last month. India lost to Australia in the final on March 23.

All the members of the Indian team attended the party except for offspinner Harbhajan Singh who is ill. Ganguly introduced all the players to the President.

Union Minister for Commerce and Law Arun Jaitley, who is also present of the Delhi District Cricket Association, was present at the party.

The President stressed the need to support the Indian cricket team, which has been doing the country proud. "I am delighted to see the players of the Indian cricket team," he told rediff.com when asked how he felt at meeting them. "They have done a great job in the World Cup. I am proud of them."

Little master Sachin Tendulkar was mobbed by photographers and had to be rescued by the security personnel. "I will speak to you later," Tendulkar told reporters who sought his comments on demands that he be given the Bharat Ratna for his contribution to Indian cricket.

Asked how he felt on losing the final, Ganguly told rediff.com, "I am not disappointed. Life goes on. We are now heading for Dhaka and we hope to lift the trophy there."

He, however, refused to discuss the harsh comments made by some former cricketers in the early part of the tournament. He also refused to discuss the comment he reportedly made that Anil Kumble may have made a difference in the final. "Chhodo Paaji. Kya rakha hai in sub mein [let it be, what's the point discussing all this now]," he said.

At the party, the President held an informal discussion with the players who listened to him attentively.

"The President shared with us his experiences of life," Kumble later said, "particularly in science and technology, and said there is nothing better than working as a team."

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani joined the function towards the end.

Vajpayee whisphered something in the ear of the little master during the group photo session which evoked a smile from Tendulkar.

Amongst those present at the party were Jagmohan Dalmiya, president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, former India captains Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi and Bishen Singh Bedi, former India cricketers Yashpal Sharma and Kirti Azad, MP, both members of the World Cup-winning team of 1983, Rajiv Shukla, Rajya Sabha and BCCI member, and Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Vikram Verma.