Victorious Team India celebrates Uthappa's 22nd b'day

Lucknow, Nov 11 (UNI) What could be a better gift to hard-hitting right hand batsman Robin Venu Uthappa on his 22nd birthday than the rip-roaring victory of Team India against Pakistan in the ODI played today at Green Park stadium in Kanpur.

Robin, son of Venu, an international hockey referee, cut a bat shape cake at an event sponsored by Sahara Parivar to welcome both the teams in an inimitable style.

Both the teams were given a warm welcome at the function, where the birthday boy sliced the cake to serve Team India Captain Mahinder Singh Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh, who did not forget to colour his face with it.

Meanwhile addressing mediapersons, Sahara Director Shushanto Roy noted ''we are happy that both the teams accepted our invitation in Sahara Shahar. In April, 2005 too, we had invited both the teams during the Indo-Pak ODI at Green Park.'' Later, the players left for their respective cottages from where they will leave for Gwalior in the morning of November 13.

Sahara, the official sponsors of the Team India, will hold a special screening of the movie 'Om Shanti Om' tomorrow in the presence of several Bollywood stars, including Shahrukh Khan. A grand dinner party has also been organised by the host for both the teams in the evening, while in the morning hours arrangements have been made for their net practice inside the Sahara Sahar.

However, the crazy fans of the Kanpur were denied the presence of King Khan, who has been asked by the Kanpur district administration to cancel his visit to avoid any law and order problem during the match.

Team India and the visting Pakistan cricket team had reached Kanpur on November 10 from Chandigarh after celebrating the festival of Diwali to play the third one-day at Green Park.

UNI