Balaji bowls them over

On Friday evening, the campus of the Lahore University of Management Sciences was buzzing with excitement. A bus, swathed with tinted glass windows and escorted by security hawks, zoomed into it. The LUMS Culture Society had pulled off a coup of sorts. They got Rahul Dravid, Irfan Pathan, Parthiv Patel and Lakshmipathy Balaji to attend an interactive session with its students.

The moment the players were visible, chants of 'Balaji, Balaji' filled the overcrowded auditorium. The Tamil Nadu bowler could only blush, as he has through the tour.

Inside the hall, there was energy and noise. The Indian team's media manager, Amrit Mathur, kicked-off the session by introducing the players and asking them to speak about themselves. The floor then was thrown open to the students and, unlike the numerous press conferences one is used to, this session had a dash of freshness to it.

"What didn't you like about Pakistan?" a girl asked Dravid.

Before Dravid could answer, a voice from the audience screamed: 'Umar Gul'!

Dravid laughed and replied: 'The fast bowlers.'

Another faceless voice in the crowd yelled: "[Irfan] Pathan, kya Mumbai mein girl friend mil jaati hai [Pathan, can you get a girlfriend in Mumbai]?"

'Mujhe dekhkar kya lagta hai, [Seeing me what do you feel?]' Pathan replied to the cheers of the audience.

The attention then turned to the star of the tour, Laxmipathy Balaji.

It only took that much for the crowd to break into 'Balaji' chants once again.

"What did you like most about Pakistan?"

'The girls are pretty,' Balaji replied, and there was more applause.

Someone asked him how he felt hitting Shoaib Akhtar for a six.

'I have never hit a six in my life in domestic cricket. It is the most memorable six of my life,' he replied.

He also joked that he would love to become a comedian if offered a role in films.

Despite the presence of Dravid and Pathan, the response and applause Balaji drew was baffling.

One of the students said his personality is different from that of the other Indian cricketers. A girl, who confessed being a huge Balaji fan, said "his name is unique and he has a cute face".

Another girl said the number of friendship bands he wears on his hands make him look rather friendly.

'Those adorned bands are actually religious symbols,' Balaji explained later.

A boy in the crowd explained that there is a rhythm in his name, "which just sounds great to chant".

There were serious and interesting questions as well.

Dravid explained the pressure of representing his country as a cricketer. He admitted it is a taxing job, but added that the experience of filling happiness into the lives of people is unique and he would not have it any other way.

He also explained that he came to Pakistan with an open mind.

"Someone asked me if India is a land of snake charmers and how come I know English. It upsets me. So I have come here with no ideas or stereotypes," was his reply to a question.

Asked about his own form, Dravid said he did well in the one-day series and is looking to correct his string of low scores in the Test series in the third Test in Pindi.

Pathan was asked whether he would play for Pakistan.

"Proud to be an Indian. No chance to play for Pakistan," was the reply from the 19-year-old Baroda seamer.

He also clarified that former Pakistan fast bowling ace Wasim Akram had only given him some tips and not coached him as media reports had stated.

This clarification was followed by a request from a Yousuf Youhana fan: "Please don't bowl that in-swinger to Youhana in Pindi."

The 45-minute session was easily amongst the best the Indian players have encountered on their tour of Pakistan.

Pakistan Cricket Board CEO Rameez Raja was cornered with questions about the shoddy farewells to former Pakistan stars. He retorted by saying that Wasim Akram had announced his retirement outside Pakistan while Saeed Anwar did not bother to inform the Pakistan Cricket Board about his retirement plans. He added that Waqar Younis would be given a fitting farewell on the second day of the Rawalpindi Test.