Agony and ecstasy

SAS NAGAR, May 24: Amidst the general euphoric mood here before the Independence Cup final, there was a touch of tragedy for Pakistan team ...

SAS NAGAR, May 24: Amidst the general euphoric mood here before the Independence Cup final, there was a touch of tragedy for Pakistan team manager Nasim-ul-Ghani, Yesterday afternoon, even as the teams were getting ready for practice, Ghani received a call from his hometown Karachi, informing him of his elder sister’s death, due to throat cancer. In the event, Ghani was a shattered man.

In fact, Pakistan coach Mushtaq Mohammed had virtually forced him to attend the team get-together to help take his mind off the tragedy. Ghani’s eyes were filled with tears as he said, “It is a big blow for me. She was like a mother to me. I’m not going back to Karachi straightaway because I will not be able to make it in time for the burial.” Still, the manager might just decide to leave for Karachi after the first final.

* Apart from that sad news, there was a general feeling of bonhomie among members of both teams as the PCA had organised a cultural evening at the Rock Garden, where the dance maestro Astad Deboo from Mumbai presented a spellbinding show with his effervescent troupe of dancers and musicians and the players of both the teams were seen rejoicing and moving with beats of the mellifluous music.

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Salim Malik instinctively broke into the bhangra when the song Na na na na re, na re from the latest Amitabh starer Mrityundata was played.

* Over the year diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan have not been too cordial but the relations between the cricketers of the two countries have been thick and chummy. The same views were expressed by Mohinder Amarnath, who is also here.

“Even when I was playing, the Pakistani cricketers were very friendly with the spectators and cooperative with the media. But this time round their friendly split has become very evident and they have been seen openly sharing light moments with all and sundry. The spirit of friendliness is very good for the game.”

* Can you beat this? At the get-together at the Rock Garden last evening, Pakistan coach Muhstaq Mohammad said, “the India journalists write much better than Pakistanis. Their English is very good.”