Fri, 13 Jun 2008, Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh will present the man of the match award at the Euro 2008 match between Switzerland and Portugal in Basel on Sunday, a sponsor said. Yuvraj faces a late night dash from the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka to reach Basel in the time for the game where his footballing hero Cristiano Ronaldo will be playing for Portugal.
The elegant left-hander, 26, will leave Dhaka soon after the tri-series final between India and Pakistan ends on Saturday night, an official said. Indian cricketers have rarely shared the spotlight at a top-level football meet, but Yuvraj's presence in Basel is part of a global promotion by beer manufacturers Carlsberg, one of Euro's sponsors.
"India is among a few select countries that have been asked to take a celebrity to represent India at Basel," a release from the sponsors said. Yuvraj, the Indian vice-captain, said he was delighted to be asked to be chief guest at the presentation ceremony.
"Obviously it's a huge honour to be invited to give away the man of the match award in a tournament like the Euro," Yuvraj told the Indian media in Dhaka. "I've always supported Manchester United and am a great fan of Ronaldo.
"I try and watch their games even if I can't watch other matches in the Premiership. Even recently, after a match I stayed up at night and watched the Champions League final where Man U beat Chelsea," he said.
Indian one-day captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was the original choice for the Basel trip, but declined citing prior commitments.
The only obstacle in Yuvraj's way for a date with Ronaldo will be if the Dhaka final is interrupted by rain on Saturday, since Sunday has been set aside as a reserve day
source: www.cricbuzz.com
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