While the Kenyans just yesterday got the visas for their wives and children for the trip to South Africa, their rivals are getting plane loads of support from back home. Among the sea of blue at Kingsmead on Thursday were the leading lights of the Indian film industry, socialites and politicians too.At the training session on Wednesday, the Kenyan manager Nupin Patel said, ‘‘yes after lots of delay and paper work we finally managed the visas for the wives and children of five players who were very keen to make the trip,’’ he said. Asif Karim, who made an early morning trip to the airport to receive his wife and kids, stressed the importance of having one’s family around. ‘‘On tours which are so long, one really misses one’s family besides their support is very vital for the performance,’’ he said.So while there were a few hands clapping for the Kenyans, for the Indians there were lot of glamour added to the already huge following. The arrival of Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchhan and Oscar nominee Aamir Khan has sent the local cricket fans in a frenzy. Among others expected to be on the way are Dil Chahta Hai leading lady Preity Zinta, Bollywood’s latest sensation Bipasha Basu, former Miss World Aishwarya Rai and Manisha Koirala.There are reports that liquor baron and Member of Parliament Vijay Mallya had landed in his ‘Cricket Express’ private jet, along with hosts of celebrities including former Miss India Nafisa Ali, former Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah, his son Omar Abdullah and designer Ritu Beri.According to the Indian immigration officials, more than 10,500 cricket fans have left their shores at the start of the tournament and this figure might double by the final.Thus, it shouldn’t be a surprise that the the cheers from the few Kenyan families were drowned by the magnitude of the support the Indians generated at Kingsmead.
