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Lara told to concentrate on the cricket

West Indies manager Clive Lloyd turned down a request from captain Brian Lara that he be permitted to take a break from the ongoing preparations for the World Cup, to go watch the European Cup football final in Barcelona on May 26.

Bayern Munich and Manchester United clash on that day, and Lara expressed a wish to be at the venue to cheer long time friend Dwight Yorke, of the latter side.

Lara has a bit of a history of running off in directions opposite to the one his team is taking -- thus, Warwickshire slapped a fine on him when he went off home to Trinidad, on an unscheduled break, and failed to get back in time for a match. And on another occasion, he walked out of the Windies party then touring England, in 1995, before being persuaded to come back.

Taking no chances, Clive Lloyd flatly told his superstar, this time, to stay put and concentrate on the cricket.