Fitting Finale: World’s Greatest Batsman Vs Greatest Bowler

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CLASH OF THE TITANS

Sachin Takes On Murali In The Last World Cup Match For Both Legends


Mumbai: It may not provide the pure thrill of an India-Australia encounter; it may not offer the political drama of an India-Pakistan clash either. Yet, this India-Sri Lanka final has something that makes it even more engrossing.
A straight contest between the world’s best batsman and best bowler of all time: Sachin Tendulkar versus Muthiah Muralitharan. 18,093 runs against 534 wickets. (And we are only talking one-dayers here.) A maestro and a magician on the game’s biggest stage.

Add the cauldron-like atmosphere at the Wankhede Stadium, and it promises to be a match for the gods, a battle for eternity. There’s been some concern whether Murali’s aching hamstring and dodgy knee will allow him to play but given the stage and the occasion, it’s safe to bet that if he can walk, he’ll be out there wheeling away.

There is also a twist to the contest that makes it even more gut-wrenching: it is the last World Cup for both. Only one of them will be going home with the trophy; the other will go away with aheavy heart and a strange feeling of emptiness.

Sure, it may not hurt Murali as much as it will Sachin: he has, after all, already been part of one Cup-winning side. He has also often shown the ability to take triumphs and tribulations alike in his stride. The tsunami and accompanying devastation back home has clearly helped him see life’s bigger picture.

Sachin has probably not reached that stage yet: winning the World Cup has been a lifelong dream for him. He wants it desperately because that’s the only thing missing from his array of exploits. If the hundredth ton comes along with it, it would be afitting last chapter, to at least his one-day career.

“It’s the most important tournament in my life,” he had said just before the tricky quarterfinal against Australia; they were the magic words that made his mates in the team wake up to the possibility of a day without him. Since then, Team India has been a transformed side.
Murali does not believe in such hyperbole: he makes his own destiny. More importantly, he makes his mates do the ‘dirty work’ by unleashing his charm offensive in the dressing room. “We will really miss him,” said vice-captain Mahela Jayawardene. “He keeps us laughing all the time.”

That itself is amazing if you consider his long and tumultuous journey, from a maverick spinner who had to bowl outside the leg-stump simply to stop Tendulkar once, to the world’s greatest. He has been in the midst of many storms, and been the cause of quite a few too, only to emerge with a smile.

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Mega bandobast in Mumbai
Come Saturday, Mumbai will witness its biggest bandobast ever. Along with 3,500 city policemen, the Coast Guard, the army, navy and air force will be monitoring the situation. In addition, crack teams of the National Security Guard, Quick Response Team and Force One will be on stand-by. Wankhede will be a no-fly zone.

VIP netas add to cops’ worries
Over 3,000 VIPs, led by President Pratibha Patil and her Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa, are expected to descend on the city. Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi are almost certain to come, but Sonia’s presence is doubtful. Many of the VIP netas, including 3 governors, 35 Union ministers and 7 CMs, may opt to sit in the ‘aam admi’ stands.

It’s a holiday for state employees
The state govt on Thursday declared a holiday on Saturday for all government offices in the city and suburbs. A majority of those in the private sector that work on Saturdays will work half-day on April 2. Bars and restaurants are expected to to brisk business, as on Wednesday, when a record 70,000 litres of liquor was consumed in the city.

Pay Rs 1.25 L for a ticket in black
Cricket-crazy fans are ready to pay up to Rs 1.25 lakh for a ticket in the West Avenue stand, which costs Rs 37,500. Blackmarketeers are selling tickets for ten times the original cost. The cheapest ticket in the east-west stand, priced at Rs 1,500, is selling at Rs 18,000. The Rs 5,000 north-stand ticket is priced in the black market at Rs 36,000
 

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An ‘all-party’ event: 3,000 political VIPs to attend the match

Mumbai: A contingent of senior political leaders from the Centre is set to descend on Mumbai’s soil on Saturday to watch the India-Sri Lanka World Cup cricket final at Wankhede stadium. Law-enforcing agencies are expecting over 3,000 VIPs led by President Pratibha Patil and her Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa. A senior Congress leader told TOI that Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi have confirmed that they will be in the city for the final match, but Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s presence is doubtful.

To add to the general chaos, senior police officials are expecting many netas to follow in the footsteps of Sonia and Rahul, who had been cheering the Indian cricket team from the general stands during Wednesday’s Indo-Pak semi-final at Mohali. Senior police officials said that along with the Mumbai Cricket Association, they have identified over six ‘aam admi’ stands for high-profile politicians who are willing to sweat it out under the city’s harsh sun. A senior official said: “We are sure that a large number of Congress politicians and cabinet members will prefer ‘aam admi’ stands. So, we have identified places for important persons. No doubt, they will be general stands, but they will have enhanced security cover.”

Besides the President of India, security agencies are expecting at least three governors, including Maharashtra governor K Sankaranarayanan, more than 35 Union cabinet members, chief ministers of seven states and other leading politicians to attend the match. Their own security teams will also be accompanying them.

The BJP contingent is said to include party president Nitin Gadkari, senior leader L K Advani, leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, her Rajya Sabha counterpart Arun Jaitely and Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi. The Shiv Sena will be represented by executive president Uddhav Thackeray and his son Aditya.

Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, with his wife Satwashila, Union ministers Vilasrao Deshmukh, Praful Patel, Murali Deora and Gurudas Kamat have also informed organizers that they will be attending the World Cup final at Wankhede. NCP president and agriculture minister Sharad Pawar will play host. “It will truly be an all-party event,” said a senior official.

While the MCA says it has the situation and seating arrangements under control, sources associated with the organization told TOI otherwise. An MCA member said: “The biggest issue before us is to provide seats to such a large number of VIPs. There is little scope for last-minute adjustment as the tickets have already been sold online.” The only way out, he said, is for the MCA to request affiliated clubs to surrender their seats to accommodate the influx of VIPs.

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State gives holiday, pvt firms in party mood :pepsi :cheer

Mumbai: The state government on Thursday declared Saturday a holiday for the World Cup final between India and Sri Lanka, which will be played at the refurbished Wankhede stadium. Several private sector companies anyway do not work Saturdays. A major chunk of those that do has announced a half day. Those that work full day have organized special screenings of the match and lunch. Some have even thrown in games and after-hours parties to extend the festivities.

On Thursday, the general administration department of the state government issued a Government Resolution (GR) declaring a holiday for all government offices in the island city and suburbs. However, exams will be conducted as scheduled, read the GR. Mumbai university too will hold its exams.

Mantralaya officials said the district collector can declare a local holiday if there is an event of public interest. “In case of Mumbai and its suburbs, this discretion is with the government and hence the GR,” said an official, “Wednesday’s semifinal match saw a near deserted city and keeping the security issue in mind, it was decided that Saturday be declared a holiday.”

Private sector employees who must attend work on Saturday, though, are not complaining. A corporate major has organized a party late in the evening, irrespective of whether India wins or loses.

“We will have contests where the staff will have to guess the wickets and sixes during overs. Whoever predicts perfectly will win more prizes,” said an employee of a media and PR firm at Nariman Point. A banking firm in Fort has already booked space in a pub while some members of the stock market and financial institutions have booked lounges in clubs and major hotels for parties.
 

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Ambani Spends Rs 5 Cr For Corporate Boxes At Wankhede Final

India’s richest man Mukesh Ambani has earmarked a fat budget to watch the April 2 World Cup final with family and friends at the Wankhede Stadium, the Mumbai Mirror reported on Saturday. With India one win away from the title clash, it seems like most of his business moves, he’s got this investment spot on too.

Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani has splurged Rs 5 crore on three corporate boxes in MCA Pavilion at the southern end of the renovated stadium. With 15-16 seats in each box, this roughly works out to Rs 10 lakh per guest. That’s around Rs 1650 for very ball bowled, assuming both teams bat 50 overs. The cheapest ticket for the World Cup final, by the way, is Rs 1500.

While the three air-conditioned corporate boxes come equipped with everything that money can buy --LCD TVs, video-matrix score cards, personal attendants and food and drinks -- even in pure cricketing terms, these seats offer the best view of the game. Placed right behind the bowler’s arm or the wicket-keeper (depending which end the bowler is running in from), these are cricket buff’s delight.
 

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and lastly

World Cup final: Dos and Don'ts on the D-day

Call or SMS 9146009090, Mumbai Police's special helpline for Friday & Saturday, if you see any suspicious activity in and around the stadium

On D-Day

1) Entry to the stadium begins at 11.30 am

2) Opt for public transport to reach the stadium, avoid private cars

3) Carry photo identity proof

4) Do not believe rumours, inform police on '100' if you hear any

5) Do not touch unattended baggage, inform policemen or dial '100'

6) Co-operate with the police during security checks

7) Only ticket holders will be allowed. Do not assemble near the stadium as there is no chance of procuring tickets

8) Don't panic in an emergency, follow instructions given by police

You can carry:

Mobile phones (after being checked by security staff), flags (without sticks), paper posters and banners, wallets


Not permitted:

Video camera, binoculars, transistor, camera, water bottles, inflammable or explosive material, shoulder bags, pouches, luggage, electronics such as laptop, calculator, iPod, remote control etc, arms, ammunition, parts of weapons, sharp or pointed objects, sticks, liquids, fireworks, match boxes, lighters, cigarettes, tobacco, bidis, gutkha, food items, any objectionable items
 
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