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Tour Diary: Politicians bitten by cricket bug
Some state politicians made their presence felt during the second day's play in the match between Pakistanis and Board XI at Dharamshala.
Some state politicians made their presence felt during the second day's play in the match between the visiting Pakistani team and the Indian Board President's XI at the HPCA Stadium on Friday.
On Friday, Himachal Pradesh power minister Vidya Stokes came to watch the match accompanied by former ministers Major Vijay Singh Mankotia and Chandresh Kumari.
The HPCA president is Anurag Thakur, the son of former chief minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Prem Kumar Dhumal. The Congress party now heads the state government.
Though leaders from both parties were seen in the VVIP block on Thursday and Friday, party affiliations did have a bearing on how they were being treated.
Some former BJP ministers of the state were also among those present.
Dharamsala's Jalandhar connection
HPCA president Anurag Thakur deserves kudos for the successful organisation of an international-level match in this hill town that now boasts of a cricket stadium with a spectacular backdrop of the imposing snow-covered Dhauladhar mountains in the Himalayas.
Even though the stadium is not yet complete, the playing area is well kept — and that was why the match allotted to this city.
The lush green grass took the breath away of many first-time spectators.
But Thakur had some brickbats to face, especially with the criticism that everything — from men to material — had a Jalandhar connection.
Thakur's family is largely settled in Jalandhar city of Punjab, though his politician father was the previous chief minister of Himachal Pradesh and the family lived in Hamirpur area of the state.
Even the 12,000 laddoos that were distributed to the spectators by the HPCA on Thursday to celebrate Pakistani captain Inzamam-ul-Haq's birthday were also brought from Jalandhar.
Several VIP spectators, specially invited to watch the match, were also close family and friends of the Thakur from Jalandhar.
Nirankari volunteers
At the main parking outside the stadium, volunteers from the Nirankari sect in their khakhi uniforms and white Gandhi caps, ensured that every vehicle was parked properly.
Parking remains a big problem at many stadiums in India. But it was different in this city.
