Indian corporate chiefs team to cheer cricket squad at World Cup

A team of high-flying Indian corporate chiefs will be heading this weekend to South Africa to cheer on the national cricket squad at the World Cup finals on Sunday.

A team of high-flying Indian corporate chiefs will be heading this weekend to South Africa to cheer on the national cricket squad at the World Cup finals on Sunday, an official with a major business organisation said Friday.

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On the sidelines of the match they will also do business and meet with South African businessmen and top government representatives, a Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) official said.

"We decided to carry them to the World Cup where they will attend the finals and then later carry on with business. It will give our cricket players a lot of encouragement," the official said.

The mission is being led by Sekhar Datta, former president of CII. He will be accompanied by nine executives from prominent enterprises such as Tata Iron and Steel, Ranbaxy Laboratories and the State Bank of India.

They are slated to meet Alec Erwin, South Africa's trade and industry minister, Dullah Omar, transport minister and Essop Pahad, minister in presidency of South Africa.

Indians are hoping that the national cricket team will be able to win over the formidable Australian team in the final and repeat their World Cup victory of 20 years ago.