A Full Cup

At the Garg residence in Sector 7,Panchkula,11-year-old Udit and eight-year-old Piya are set to make sure that their friends watch the match in style. The kitchen staff is working overtime to prepare a treat with pizzas,chips,dips,fries,burgers and fizzy drinks. Dress code — the Indian team’s jersey. The faces have to be painted in tri-colour and arrangement has been made for tattoos and flags. “We have got crackers to burst if we win,” share Udit and Piya.

As the city comes to standstill,courtesy the pitch fever,fans are busy gearing up for the big game. Take Sachin Abraham,general manager of Panchkula-based gym ‘n’ spa,Platinum. The Sector 11 resident says,“I’ve got a big LCD screen for the match. All my friends are taking half the day off.” He has also hoisted the Indian flag on his car and at the gym he has arranged for live commentary.

“Cricket is best enjoyed on the big screen and with a glass of beer in hand,” says Sandeep Sahi,VP Engineering,Clickable,who is hoisting a party in Sector 23. They have chalked a menu with Pakistani dishes and will watch the match on a projector. “The dress code is blue. Each person will get a sweet of their choice. These will be shared when we win the match,” says Sahi. Kshitij Mehra and his friends from Yuvshalla,a student’s organisation,have booked the Central Club in Sector 9,Chandigarh. “We have kept a minimal entry fee and the proceeds will go to charity,” he says.

Preeti and Lincoln Sidhu will head to their farmhouse at Khuda Ali Sher,near PGI,with their cricket crazy friends and family. Playing a perfect hostess,Preeti has planned a mix of Indian and Continental cuisine,including green tikkas,baked veggies and chicken. “We are driving down together and all of us are wearing the Indian team tees. We have also ordered a big cake to finish it off,” she adds. If India wins,they all promise to jump into a huge water tank to celebrate.

Neeru Sood has sent invites to her friends to join in the excitement at her house in Sector 6,Panchkula. The lady is planning a lavish spread for lunch,tea and dinner. The grand finale is planned with crackers,“irrespective of which team wins”.

Meanwhile,for those who want to go out,the UT Administration will be putting up a giant screen at the Sector 17 Plaza for cricket fans who couldn’t make it to the stadium. The hotels in Sector 34,35,43 and 26,have also arranged for big screens. Akshay Verma’s hotel,The Toy,in Sector 34,has two banquets booked by corporates,one of them being Aircel,for private viewing. At Score in Sector 8,Peddlers in Sector 35 and Peninsula in Panchkula,the ambience has been renovated to give the feel of a stadium. “Everyone is invited to watch the match here tomorrow,” says Bhagat Singh,owner of Girl in the Cafe restaurant,in Sector 17.