Prince Charles

Glasgow: The terrorists’ audacious strike at the international airport here notwithstanding, Tuesday’s Indo-Pak ODI remains on track.

Besides adding a special chapter to the Ashes-like rivalry, the match will launch the British Asian Trust (Bat), which is going to have Prince Charles’ patronage. The heir to the British throne already supports 17 charities.

Prince Charles, by the way, will be present during the first Indo-Pak ODI in 15 months.

“With both boards (India and Pakistan) donating the TV revenue, we expect to start with something in excess of £2 million... We’re delighted with the gesture,” Bat’s chairman-designate, India-born businessman Manoj Badale, told The Telegraph.

Speaking from London before setting out for the Princess Diana Memorial concert in Wembley, on Sunday, he added: “Actually, Saturday’s incident in Glasgow has only reinforced that much needs to be done where community cohesion in the UK is concerned...

“That, indeed, is one of our objectives... Others being (a) sustainable development in the poorer regions of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and (b) focussing on education in those areas.”

According to Badale, Bat is going to look at supporting charities back in Bengal. “I’m scheduled to visit Calcutta in November... Identifying the charities will take up much of my time...”

Two top executives — Salman Amin (Pepsi) and Rajan Singh (Sony) — are on Bat’s board. Businessman Chris Matthias as well.

Once Bat starts to roll, Badale and Co. intend “working out” other fund-raisers. Given Prince Charles’ association, it won’t be a tough ask.

Footnote: The airport-strike raised security concerns, but the authorities are confident everything is going to go off smoothly — weather permitting, that is. Flights have resumed, but the chaos isn’t yet a thing of the past. The fear factor is there too.