India vs Pakistan, T20 World Cup 2016: Pakistan’s National Anthem to be sung by Shafqat Amanat Ali

Kolkata: Pakistani singer Shafqat Amanat Ali is excited to sing his country’s national anthem before the start of the much-awaited India-Pakistan World Twenty20 2016 cricket tournament at the Eden Gardens on Saturday here. “I have landed in Kolkata and feeling elated… It’s a huge honour for me to be here for this grand occasion. I am excited to be singing my national anthem at Eden Garden, and all the more excited about performing alongside Amitabh Bachchan… I am really looking forward to it,” Shafqat, who has sung various Bollywood numbers, told IANS. Megastar Amitabh Bachchan will sing the Indian national anthem in his deep baritone. Live Cricket Scorecard: India vs Pakistan, ICC World T20 2016, Match 19 at Eden Gardens

Earlier with his famed baritone, supertsar Amitabh Bachchan made an impressive commentary debut in last year’s  high-voltage India-Pakistan ICC Cricket World Cup 2015  match. The legendary actor started off his on-air stint with former India captain Kapil Dev and ex-Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar in the pre-match show. Bachchan, 72, then eased into the commentary box with Akash Chopra and Akhtar for company. Trying to get his field placements right and making sharp comments about opener Shikhar Dhawan’s technique against the short ball, Bachchan seemed to pick up the ropes of commentary pretty quickly.

Add Cricket Country as a Preferred Source

Kapil soon joined the towering Bollywood legend in the box and the Haryana hurricane egged on the actor to keep up the good work. The joy continued for many a Bachchan fan, as Rahul Dravid and Arun Lal also shared the microphone with the matinee idol as they discussed India’s winning moments in the World Cup. Keen to know about the actor’s whereabouts during the 1983 Prudential Cup final, Dravid, looking like an avid Bachchan admirer, got his answers from the man himself. Sitting in the Hindi box for the first half-hour of the match, Bachchan not only saw a six from the blade of Dhawan but was also witness to Rohit Sharma’s wicket in the eighth over off Sohail Khan.

Amitabh, who seemed to have enjoyed his first-ever commentary stint, was ironically rejected for his baritone by All India Radio (AIR) in late 1960s before he became an actor. Like any superstitious sportsman, Bachchan also revealed that India seldom win the game with him watching. The veteran actor thanked the experts and the fans for providing him a unique opportunity.