Unity Cup International Cricket Match at Prasanthi Nilayam

Sunday, December 30, 1997

On this day, a One Day International Cricket Match, ‘Sri Sathya Sai Unity Cup Match’ between India XI and International XI, was played in the Sri Sathya Sai Hill View Stadium. This was a unique match played for the first time in the history of cricket. Air Chief Marshall N. C. Suri (Retd.) gave special training to the Institute students in March Past for the inaugural ceremony.

On this day, Bhagavan arrived at the stadium in His open car at 8.30 am led by the Institute students carrying the flags of 86 countries. Mr. I. K. Gujaral, the Prime Minister of India, hoisted the Sri Sathya Sai Unity Flag and Bhagavan lit the Unity Torch. [It had been predicted in the Shuka Nadi (ancient palm-leaf manuscripts written by Sage Shuka predicting major events of the future) that the world consciousness would move towards overall goodness after the Yuga-Avatar gets such a flag hoisted at the end of the year 1997.]

Mr. Chandrababu Naidu, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Mr. J. H. Patel, Chief Minister of Karnataka and Mr. Lakshman Kadirgamar, Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka, were present on this occasion. Bhagavan witnessed the whole match. 

At lunch session, a cultural programme was put up by the Sri Sathya Sai Primary School children. At the end of the match, Bhagavan presented a specially made big silver cups to the special invitees and players of both the teams. Mr. Hanif Mohammed, Mr. Clive Lloyd and Mr. Sunil Gavaskar spoke before the prize distribution. The exciting function came to a befitting close with Bhagavan awarding Sachin Tendulkar, the captain of the winning team India XI, the Sri Sathya Sai Unity Cup. The following day during morning Darshan, He presented a silver cup to Mr. Sunil Gavaskar also.