By IANS,
Mohali : Friday was a memorable day for nearly 5,000 rural students, who witnessed Sachin Tendulkar create history, becoming the leading run-scorer in Test cricket at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium here.
The students, who had never watched a Test match before, were invited on behalf of the state government to watch the second Test between India and Australia to give them first hand experience of an international match.
The students braved heat as they saw their favourite stars from the North Block stand. The loudest cheers were reserved for Tendulkar, who surpassed Brian Lara’s record of 11,953 runs en route his 88.
“This is the first time that I am watching an international cricket match in a stadium. I have seen the players only on TV earlier,” said Gurpratap Singh who had travelled from a village outside Ludhiana.
PCA officials said arrangements had been made to provide lunch to the visiting students.
“It will be a good exposure for the students also,” PCA honorary secretary G.S. Walia said.
The North Block of the stadium was the only enclosure that saw near full capacity. All other stands, including the VIP ones, were near empty for most part of the first day’s play.
The government plans to bring 5,000 students from rural Punjab every day during the five-day Test match.