He was additionally cheered by women when he visited the Wagah border and by a gaggle of scholars at Lahore University, recollects cricket administrator Amrit Mathur, who was the crew’s media supervisor, in his memoir “Pitchside: My Life in Cricket”.
In the guide, Mathur brings alive insightful first-person accounts of a few of Indian cricket’s most memorable moments with anecdotes, occasions and matches.
In the 2004 tour, India and Pakistan performed 5 one-day worldwide matches and three Tests. India received the ODI collection 3-2 and the Test collection 2-1.
After the second ODI in Rawalpindi, which India misplaced by 12 runs, Musharraf hosted a reception for the groups on the presidential palace in Islamabad.
“The players are told to leave their mobiles in the bus and names are tallied with a list and ticked off. Gifts for the president (BCCI mementos and a bat signed by the players, with the names written by V V S Laxman, who has neat handwriting) are taken away for security screening and will be delivered inside,” writes Mathur within the guide, revealed by Westland Sports, an imprint of Westland Books.
“After a brief wait, the president strides in, impeccable in his crisp khaki uniform and black military boots. He appears taller than he looks on TV and wears his trousers high, which makes his legs look disproportionately long.
“The gamers line up for introductions and the president offers Sachin (Tendulkar) a protracted and vigorous handshake. After desultory but well mannered dialog with the assembled company, he walks to the centre of the corridor and everybody gathers in a semicircle round him. Gifts are introduced and the General thanks the crew profusely. He proceeds to provide a surprisingly correct recap of the final two video games,” the book says.
He praised Tendulkar and mentioned Mohammed Kaif’s stunning catch to dismiss Shoaib Malik that turned the first ODI in Karachi in India’s favour among others.
“But Musharraf’s greatest is reserved for Balaji, whom he hails as an important soldier, preventing bravely for his crew even in a misplaced trigger. As a soldier, he proclaims, not with out a contact of drama, I salute his spirit,” Mathur writes.
“Musharraf’s allure offensive continues by the ‘chai’ ceremony. In what seems to be a rigorously thought-through act, he mingles with the gamers, breaking protocol to make casual dialog. He requests Sachin for a photograph, pats Balaji on the again and has a longish dialog with a beaming Parthiv Patel,” he adds.
The team also paid a visit to Wagah to witness the flag lowering ceremony.
Ironically, the Indian team was sitting on the Pakistan side.
“But there isn’t a pressure or discomfort as a result of the Pakistani crowd fortunately greets the gamers. Soon, spectators on the Indian aspect spot the gamers among the many Pakistanis. The loudest cheer from Lahore – and Amritsar – is reserved for Balaji, the most recent famous person,” Mathur writes.
Balaji’s reaction when cheered by girls at Wagah was: “I did not know what to do. I needed to cover”, the book says.
During the tour, Mathur on an invitation by the Lahore University of Management Sciences accompanied Rahul Dravid, Irfan Pathan, Ajit Agarkar and Balaji for an “apolitical cross cultural interactive change” with the students.
“As we arrive on the spectacular constructing and stroll as much as the auditorium on the primary flooring, a shock awaits us. The place is packed to capability, with college students sitting within the aisles and standing on the again. When we’re ushered in, the corridor breaks into shouts of Balaji Balaji, not dissimilar to the Sachin Sachin chant at Indian grounds,” Mathur recalls.
“Hearing this noisy reception, you’d think about Balaji was a rockstar or the Big B himself, the reigning king of Hindi cinema,” he adds.
According to him, Balaji is cool and hot in Pakistan.
“The LUMS college students, representing the trendy face of Pakistan, are welcoming and very understanding. They take heed to Dravid with respect, go loopy when Balaji smiles and current an altogether completely different aspect when Irfan speaks,” he says.
Later, Balaji commented about his cult status in Pakistan: “It is okay, however who will recognise me in Chennai?”
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com