Music inspires players — Azhar

MUMBAI, April 22: And now, a concert that will wish the Indian team good luck. After albums being released for the purpose, a mahapuja that never happened, good luck charms and gold cricket bats, a concert is in order. How much more commercial good fortune can be obtained, one wonders. That too, in the short span of six days that the Indian team has been in the city.

Pepsi, the sponsors of the ’99 World Cup have tied up with MTV to hold a concert that will include biggie names like Usha Uthup, Kamaal Khan, Anaida and the newly arrived Graaf sisters. And all of them will croon their good wishes to the team as well as the multitude that will gather at the Andheri Sports Complex tonight. At a press conference held at Orchid, the Ecotel, to announce the show, entertainment was provided by Indian captain Mohammed Azharuddin and Krishnamachari Srikkanth. “Music,” said an unusually eloquent Azhar, “is our inspiration. All the boys carry around their own walkmen and are always at it. So I think this is agreat way to inspire the team.”

Srikkanth added his two bit, citing the example of “a godforsaken counrty like Pakistan, where there’s nothing to do!”. Music, he said, was the only thing that kept people sane there.

Perhaps music companies and the innumerable sponsors have the right idea in using their trade as a way to get across their good wishes, not to mention garner a whole lot of publicity in the process as well.