Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra were among those who had turned up at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore to support the Indian cricket team in the 4th ODI match against Pakistan.
Others seen in the stands were member of Parliament Rajeev Shukla, industrialist Gautam Singhania, actor Suniel Shetty, film director David Dhawan and television personality Mandira Bedi who could be heard screaming: I love you, Irfan.
While the VVIPs were ensconced in special boxes, spirited non-VIP fans filled the stands and brought them to life. An estimated 7,000 fans from Amritsar, Surat, Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and scores of other places in India came by buses, trains and planes. They were seen waving the tricolour as neither the hot sun or the humid weather dampened their spirits.
Earlier, Indian High Commissioner Shivshankar Menon and Pakistani officials received Mishra, who has been deeply involved in the recent steps towards normalisation of relations with Pakistan, at the Wagah border, about 15km from Lahore, on Saturday night.
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Given the key positions he holds as the National Security Adviser and the Principle Secretary to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Mishra's arrival has sparked off speculation whether he would engage in behind the scene diplomatic parleys.
However, Indian officials in Lahore emphasised that he had no plans to proceed to Islamabad and would be returning to India on Monday.
Mishra is accompanied by four officials of the PMO and the Ministry of External Affairs.
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