The Hindu : PM sends bat and best wishes

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Mar 22, 2003

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National

PM sends bat and best wishes

NEW DELHI MARCH 21. Two days ahead of the World Cup Cricket final, the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, today sent a "good luck" message to the Indian cricket team in South Africa.

The message — printed on a cricket bat and addressed to the captain, Saurav Ganguly, and the team — was handed over here to the Sports Minister, Vikram Verma, who would be present at the final on Sunday.

Wishing the team "good luck", Mr. Vajpayee hoped that India would emerge as winner. "Priya Saurav vah (and) Bharatiya team, World Cup mein Bharat vishwa vijayee ho, yashaswi ho aisi meri kaamna vah ishwar sey prarthna hai (Dear Saurav and the Indian team: I wish and pray to God that India emerges victorious in the World Cup and win laurels)."

Mr. Verma later told presspersons that the Prime Minister also handed over to him a letter wishing the team luck.

Exuding confidence that India would win the Cup after 20 years, he however, parried questions whether the ace batsman, Sachin Tendulkar, would be honoured with the Bharat Ratna. It was for the Prime Minister and the Home Ministry to decide, he said. — PTI

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