Dharamsala, March 3 – Anurag Thakur, the President of the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association, expressed his apologies over what happened recently concerning the inauguration of the tour opener match between Pakistan and Indian Board President’s XI by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Earlier, His Holiness the Dalai Lama had accepted the invitation extended by the HPCA to bless the first day of the first ever international cricket match in Himachal Pradesh. But after reservations were expressed from some quarters regarding his presence at the match,
His Holiness the Dalai Lama decided not to inaugurate the cricket match. The Central Tibetan Administration, through a press statement, said that “the general thinking of His Holiness the Dalai Lama is not to cause any inconvenience to any party”.
Thakur said that the Indians have a great regard for His Holiness the Dalai Lama. “We requested His Holiness to inaugurate the match, but there was little bit of controversy in between”, Thakur told Voice of Tibet radio service.
On asked about what could be the reason behind the controversy, he said, “There are so many reasons, maybe Pakistan board was not interested because of China but nothing came in writing”.
Thakur said that the HPCA would invite His Holiness in another big event in the near future.
He said that his colleagues in the HPCA were so pleased to have His Holiness as the chief guest. “Our association members were overwhelmed about His Holiness’ coming and inaugurating the game but unfortunately that did not happen and I am very sad for that. I am very sorry for what happened”.
“More than half of the stadium remained vacant which would not have been the case if His Holiness had inaugurated”, says Tenzin Dasel, a Tibetan student of Delhi University and a cricket enthusiast who had come here before His Holiness decided not to inaugurate the match. The match which began around 10 this morning had to be stopped due to bad weather. However, at the time of this report going online, the match had resumed.
