In India do as superstitious Indians do. That's the mantra West Indies cricket captain Brian Lara seemed to be following when he met an astrologer in Mumbai last month before a key match against Australia and even sought his blessings for an international academy.
"I happened to be in Mumbai at that time and Lara met me there. He was with me for over one-and-a-half hours," Jaipur-based astrologer Kedar Sharma said of the meeting before the West Indies-Australia match in ICC Champions Trophy on Oct 18.
"I also tied a holy thread (raksha kavach) on his wrist, which according to astrology is aimed at protecting a person against ill effects," Sharma said.
Lara assured the astrologer that he would tie the holy thread whenever he played a match.
Though Sharma refused to divulge any further details about his meeting with one of the world's greatest batsmen, the astrologer's aides said Lara also discussed his future plans.
Lara told the astrologer he would like to come up with an international level academy and he needed his blessings.
Lara was apparently taken aback when Sharma told him about several interesting facts about his life, his exact time of birth and about a recent property purchase.
{{/usCountry}}Lara was apparently taken aback when Sharma told him about several interesting facts about his life, his exact time of birth and about a recent property purchase.
{{/usCountry}}Sharma presented him with a rudraksh, holy bead, and an idol of the Hindu god Ganesha.