A warm invitation extended by the Secretary of the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) and Lok Sabha Member Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer proved to be a godsend for the 1,100 students of government schools in Barnala, who got a rare opportunity to witness the India–Afghanistan Test match at the International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh.
The Sangrur MP, along with Lakhwinder Singh Gill, father of Indian captain Shubman Gill, watched the cricket match with the students from the Yuvraj Singh Stand. The Men in Blue won the match by an innings and 300 runs within just three days.
The 1,100 students from the School of Eminence, Barnala, and various other government schools were visibly excited and cheered for the home team with never-ending and deafening applause at regular intervals. Meet Hayer specially interacted with the students in the Yuvraj Singh Stand and enjoyed the match with them during the second session.
The one-of-its-kind experience was exhilarating for the students, with joy writ large on their faces. They carried banners and posters in support of Team India, with many of them witnessing a cricket match inside a stadium for the first time.
The students profusely expressed gratitude to Meet Hayer and took autographs from Shubman Gill's father on their posters. Welcoming the students on behalf of the PCA, Meet Hayer said that it was a big occasion for the students to see their favourite cricketers in action on the field and cheer for them.
The PCA made excellent arrangements to provide the students with a golden opportunity to watch the match during their summer break, said Meet Hayer, adding that transportation and afternoon refreshments were also arranged by the PCA, besides gifting T-shirts as souvenirs.
Among others present on the occasion were District Manager (Sports), Barnala, Simardeep Singh, and school in-charges.