Dharamshala: A group of England cricketers had a special meeting with the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, at his residence in Mcleodganj, Dharamshala, on Wednesday. The cricketers, who are part of the squad for the fifth and final Test against India, sought his blessings and guidance ahead of the crucial match.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) shared a picture of the cricketers with the Dalai Lama on its official Twitter account. “It is an incredible honor to meet His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The England players and management met him at his residence in Mcleodganj, Dharamshala,” the ECB tweeted.
The cricketers who met the Dalai Lama were Jack Crowley, Tom Hartley, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, Gus Atkinson, and assistant coach Marcus Trescothick. They also presented him with a signed England jersey and a cricket bat.
The Dalai Lama, who fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule, has been living in India ever since. He is revered by millions of Buddhists around the world as a symbol of peace and compassion. He was also a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989.
The meeting with the Dalai Lama comes as England faces the daunting task of saving the series against India, who have already taken an unassailable 3-1 lead. The fifth Test will begin in Dharamsala on Thursday. England have made one change to their playing eleven, bringing in fast bowler Mark Wood in place of Ollie Robinson. Wood, who has not played a Test since January 2020, will add some pace and bounce to the England attack on a pitch that is expected to assist the seamers.
