The young cricket fanatics in the city enjoyed the high profile cricket match of Asia Cup-2012 on Sunday between the two arch rivals Pakistan and India on large screens installed in various markets, open places and parks while majority of them made special arrangements at homes, work places and shops. With a Sunday as being the holiday, the residents of Islamabad thronged big markets including F-7, F-10, G-10, Blue Area, G-6 (Melody and Aabpara Market) from the mid day and a great rush was witnessed at the depth overs of first innings in which Pakistan posted massive total of 329/6.
Wearing green shirts of Pakistani cricket team and getting their faces painted with green and white flags, the youth enthusiasm was its pinnacle when they started gathering at F-7 Jinnah Super Market, F-10 Markaz, and Blue Area. Some of the youngsters also decorated their motorbikes and 4-wheelers with Pakistani flags and buntings. They were fully charged and raised slogans ‘Pakistan Zindabad’, ‘we will win’ and ‘Bring Asia Cup at home’.
All through the day, vendors and shop keepers at H-9 weekly bazaar continued to ask updates of the match while majority of them made arrangement for TV sets at their stalls to watch the high profile match live.
A number of labourers were also witnessed in the city having cell phones to their ears for listening commentary of the match.
Tariq Malik, a graphic designer, was excited as he was watching the match on a big screen at his shop. “I love the idea of having a cup of tea, wearing a green shirt, and watching live game of cricket between the two rivals with my friends at my shop,” he said, adding he had borrowed the LCD screen from one of his friends to enjoy the match.
On the occasion, big and small hotels, motels, and restaurants also offered delicious menu by installing large LCD’s in the interior of the lobby and dining rooms. “We are not charging any additional amount. The menu is with the same price but, yes, we have made special colourful arrangements for the viewers-cum-customers,” said a manager of a local hotel. He said for regular customers, the hotel was serving complimentary welcome drinks and cricket patented cupcakes, with a ticket costing Rs 500 with 10 percent discount for those wearing green jerseys.
Sardar Hamza Khan, a postgraduate of NUML University, told Pakistan Today: “We are setting up a big screen with top-of-the-line equipment, high quality, SP-4 speakers. Everything we can do in a limited budget to entertain the students living in the hostels.”
When asked about Pakistan’s chances to win the game, he said: “We have scored a huge total of 329 that is enough, I guess, with the top bowling attack we have had. There is no reason that we lose the match. If it will happen, I‘ll blame bowlers or fielders after batsmen did a wonderful job,” Hamza maintained.
Some people, on the other hand, preferred private screenings at homes in the comfort of friends and family. Hamtaya Aftab, a school student arranged a family-get-together at his home in I-10 Sector. “Though Indian batting line up is not fragile rather one of the strongest in Asian tracks, but I hope the spin wizard Saeed Ajmal will imply his magic and will be the obstacle in Indian’s win,” he maintained. “We have also arranged a barbecue party in our house later at the night when the match will be over in which our relatives and friends have been invited. So, I am confident after giving Indians a target of 330 we will win comfortably at the end, he ended.
