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Team to present crystal set to Wright
The idea to give the outgoing coach a 35-piece hand crafted bar set came from Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid.
The Indian cricket team will present a 35-piece hand crafted crystal bar set, complete with decanter and even peanut bowls, to outgoing coach John Wright during the One-Day International against Pakistan at New Delhi.
The idea came from captain Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, who were also instrumental in bringing the former New Zealand captain as the first foreign coach of the national team in 2000.
The Delhi match on Sunday, the sixth and final ODI against Pakistan, will be Wright's last match as coach of the Indian team.
The bar set has been designed and made by Bangalore's Diamond Crystal Private Limited (DCPL) at its Indore factory and cost about Rs. 60,000. The set will be packed in specially designed attractive boxes made in Jaipur.
"The three players got in touch with us after we made the 47-piece dinner set ordered by the Karnataka State Cricket Association on the occasion of Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq's 100th Test at Bangalore last month," DCPL sales manager AK Atal said.
"Sourav, Sachin and Dravid decided on the bar set, but Sachin called me to place the order," disclosed Atal.
The decanter and ice bucket will have this message: "It was great being with you, will miss you — Indian cricket team 2000-2005."
"They were obviously happy with the dinner set that we made for Inzamam. The only thing they told me was to inscribe this message," said Atal.
"The crystal is flawless with 30 percent lead, is hand crafted and mouth blown. The team gave us a free hand to design the set," he said.
The bar set will comprise six whisky glasses, six liquor glasses, six peanut bowls, six plates, six beer mugs, two serving bowls, one decanter, one ice pail and one ashtray.
