The Hindu : For them it's beyond politics

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 11, 2003

Sport

Sport - World Cup

For them it's beyond politics

By Our Special Correspondent

BLOEMFONTEIN FEB 10. They sat in adjacent boxes to bring home ball-by-ball commentary of the ICC Cricket World Cup. And met at lunch to refresh their memories of the days when India and Pakistan played some exciting cricket that held the attention of the world.

A pity the two nations cannot think on those lines any more.

Suresh Saraiya, a veteran in his business, and young Vineet Garg, had surprise visitors to their box in the afternoon.

For the All India Radio team producer Mukhul Goswami and engineer H. S. Dhillon it was a new experience but not for Saraiya who had made four trips to Pakistan in his illustrious career.

The Pakistani camp too had a veteran in Tariq Rahim, the English commentator, and Raja Asad, the Urdu commentator. To add to the camaraderie, the Pakistan Radio also drafted in Eric Gouder, a Sri Lankan commentator.

Brushing all politics aside, the commentary teams shared their experience when they met for lunch with each offering some snacks brought from home.

Lest one forgets, the Pakistan Radio's producer was Devesh Bhatnagar, an enterprising youngster hailing from Delhi and working in Dubai. The company that Devesh works for had the right for broadcasting in Pakistan.

It was a nice sub-continent corner in the media enclosure in a match not involving India or Pakistan. They parted with a promise to meet at lunch on March 1 when India meets Pakistan at the Centurion.

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