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When They Played At The Lord's….. They were the best, the game could boast of…in the
country and in the world.
On that day, both of them told Swami, "Baba, we see devotees doing so much for you all the time. We too love you very much and want to serve you. But cricket is our profession, and we cannot obviously serve you like doctors and teachers do. So, please guide us and tell us in what way we can serve you, because we both are very keen to do so." Bhagavan smiled and said, "Well, why don't you arrange a cricket match for Me?" The two cricket stars simply could not believe what they heard. "Was Baba really serious?" They wondered. Soon they discovered that Swami was not joking but meant precisely what He said. And that was how the idea for the Sri Sathya Sai Unity Cup, a one-day international cricket match between India XI and the World XI, was born. With their wide international contacts, it was not difficult for Sunil and Kalli to get in touch with stars from overseas. Getting the consent of the Indian board of control for cricket also was no problem at all. As everyone knows, the schedule of cricket stars is packed. Yet, when Swami wills, things happen smoothly. It came as no wonder, that the overseas players invited for the Unity Cup match had no problem, in finding free time slots. In fact, 30th December, 1997, the day fixed for the Unity Cup, came right in the middle of the Sri Lankan tour of India. In spite of that, Indian and Sri Lankan players participating in this match could easily make it. Now, an international cricket match requires a cricket field meeting international standards. When Gavaskar and Kallicharan came up with the idea for a one-day international, Puttaparthi did not have such a ground. So, where was the match to be played? In Bangalore perhaps? Bangalore had a full-fledged cricket stadium, and Swami also spent many months in a year at Bangalore. So, may be one could think of Bangalore as the venue for the match, since that also was Swami's town - so many thought! But Swami had other ideas. He simply said, "The unity cup match will be played in the Hill view Stadium, here, in Puttaparthi!"
Doubting Thomases had a field day, raising all kinds of questions. But they all forgot some basics. Who brought drinking water to millions? Who was it that had built an ultra modern hospital in a rural area, a hospital that was treating thousands of patients absolutely free? Compared to those achievements, a cricket ground was just chicken feed. While the Thomases were busy with their doubts, others became busy with various details connected with the Unity Cup match. The reputed, Larsen and Toubro, that had built the Super Specialty hospital and executed the Drinking Water project, was asked to get the stadium and the pavilion ready, in good time, for the match. E.A.S Prasanna, a great spin bowler of the past, became deeply involved with the preparation of the pitch, the outfield, and supervising all aspects of infrastructure development, including the pavilion and the scoreboard. By the way, why was Swami particular that the match be
held in Puttaparthi? There were many reasons. Firstly, it would enable
rural cricket enthusiasts to get a chance to see an international sporting
event in their environment. These young cricket fans could not afford to
go to the cities and pay huge gate money. But they loved the game
nevertheless, and Swami decided to make them happy. Swami also decided
that there would be no gate fee for the match, something totally unheard
of where such a sporting event was concerned. Not just that. On the day of
the match, Swami even gave free breakfast and lunch to the crowd! How wonderful were those days were for the students! Practically every student and teacher of the institute got involved with some duty or the other, associated with the match. That is Swami's way of giving opportunities for spiritual development and advancement. Swami once said, "God does not ever want anything. But when He comes down as an Avatar, He sometimes pretends that He wants this or that. With much love, the devotee then tries to fulfil what he believes God wants. And in this manner, the devotee earns much merit, which he otherwise would not have." An unprecedented event of this kind, that proclaimed global unity via sports, could not be allowed to pass without an appropriate chief guest. Therefore, with Swami's blessings, Sri. I.K.Gujral, the Prime Minister of India, was invited to be the guest of honour. The choice of Gujral was befitting, since he had personally done much to promote international amity. D-day minus one. The whole of Puttaparthi was in the grip of severe cricket fever and there was tremendous excitement in the air. In the afternoon, the players all arrived by air, and went straight from the airport to the Hill view stadium. Almost all of them were coming to Puttaparthi for the first time; and when they saw the ground, they were overwhelmed. Such a beautiful setting, and so very different from the grounds they had seen the world over. Yes, is there any another ground in the world where Buddha, Jesus and a host of other Gods stood atop, as spectators?! They went to the middle and inspected the pitch. It was unbelievable. Some of them said that this pitch looked far better than many they have played on. Prasanna who heard it all smiled. Yes, he had every reason to. What would these very people have said if they had come to the ground a few months ago?! Someone said, "How about checking in at the Guest House and having some lunch?" The players had other ideas. They wanted to see every inch of this wonder. And so they went to the pavilion, only to discover that it too was world class. And why not? Had not swami come there every day to supervise every little detail, including the chairs, the curtains, and the crockery? Meanwhile, a huge crowd of fans had already gathered on the field, and movement became somewhat difficult. The players were very happy. Nothing gives players greater happiness than to play before large crowds. They now knew that Puttaparthi was not exactly in the middle of nowhere, as the saying goes. Shanti Bhavan, the guest house, was the next stop. My word, what a scene it was! Thousands milling around to catch a glimpse of the cricket stars! "If it is like this today, what would it be like tomorrow?" that was the question many had. It was time for the evening Darshan. Devotees made their way to the Mandir. But would the players come for Darshan? They did! Who would miss Swami's Darshan?!
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Finally, the
big day. Crowds started filling the stadium even before dawn. Villagers
came from everywhere, and thousands perched on the hill by the side of the
Gods there. All the Gods had plenty of company! There was a riot of colour
all over, and the new stadium was grand and marvellous. And, what about
the ground? The outfield was a wonderful green carpet, definitely world
class. And all along the boundary line, there were hoardings carrying
Swami's sayings. What a change from the ads that one sees in the usual
cricket grounds! 
Swami entered
the ground in a ceremonial parade. He came in an elegant sports car, white
in colour, and driven by His student. At the head of the procession was
the popular favourite, Sai Geetha. This must have be the only cricket
match where a caparisoned elephant formed a part of the opening
ceremonies! Behind Sai Geetha came the institute brass band, in a smart
turnout, followed by over a hundred students, in slow march, bearing the
flags of all nations.