Kolkata - Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan Saturday lauded the passion and warm welcome of Kolkata people and hoped the green caps would emerge as winners of this highly-charged clash of titans.
“On behalf of the Pakistan cricket team, I want to thank people of Kolkata for this warm welcome and great reception they have given us. Hope, it’s a great game today. I hope the result will be the same as when I last played for Pakistan on this ground,” said Imran after he was felicitated before the match.
It is pertinent to mention here that Imran last played here during the 1989-90 Nehru Cup where Pakistan beat India in a league game by 77 runs followed by their win in the final against the West Indies. Imran had played swashbuckling unbeaten knock of 47 runs off 39 balls with the help of two fours and two sixes.
Earlier, former Pakistan team captain, who lifted the ICC ODI Cricket World Cup 1992 trophy, met each player of national cricket team individually at the Taj Hotel to give important tips to them and boosted their morale to deliver their the crucial match. “You all have to relax, don’t take any pressure and feel good out in the ground,” a team official quoted Imran as saying. “All of you should step out in the ground with an aim of coming out victorious from this and whatever you think in your mind, happens actually if you work hard for it,” he added.
Sachin Tendulkar was cheered vociferously as he tried speaking in Bengali “Kamon Aco Bhalo achi (acho)” (Hope you are doing well). “It’s fantastic atmosphere over here. It’s always been exciting and Nice to see stalwarts from Pakistan. We welcome them here. Let’s enjoy cricket above all,” said Tendulkar, who also greeted CM Mamata Banerjee with a ‘Namaskar’.
Amitabh Bachchan thanked CAB president Sourav Ganguly for inviting him. “Thank you Sourav and CAB to invite me here to this historic venue to witness the historic game of cricket between the two countries. I wish all the best for the game. May the better team win. I also thank Mamatadi, for very thoughtfully giving us the symbol of peace between the two nations. May the peace prevail between India and Pakistan,” Bachchan said. It was ‘Yesterday Once More’ for the fans as they witnessed an August gathering with legends Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar and Virender Sehwag from India while Pakistan was represented by Imran Khan, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.