Mumbai: Each of the 15 members of the Indian World Cup squad on April 1 received possession of a super-deluxe apartment in the posh Amby Valley from team sponsors Sahara India in appreciation of their fine performance in the tournament in South Africa.

The "seven-star" apartments, which collectively cost over Rs 23 crores, were supposed to be a reward if India won the World Cup but Sahara decided to give it to the players even though the team lost to Australia in the final.

Sahara India chief Subrato Roy Sahara and superstar Amitabh Bachhan, a director in the company, handed over the keys and papers to the cricketers at a function in Amby Valley, situated in Lonavala, about 85 km from Mumbai.

Team physio Andrew Leipus and trainer Adrian le Roux were also rewarded for their services with a similar apartment in the "World Cup Enclave". Coach John Wright, who is away in New Zealand, would receive his apartment later.

"This gift is just a token of our appreciation for our cricketers. We are sure our team will perform even better in future," Subrato Roy said at the function.

He said the team had won most of their World Cup matches convincingly and the players put up some of the most fabulous performances. It was the uncertainties of the game that played a vital role in the final match, he said.

PTI