City gears up for Indo-Pak clash

Fans are more sporty now, says a bar manager who often hosts screenings of matches

Falah Faisal | NT

Bengaluru: After the defeat to Pakistan in the Asia Cup, the Indian team has a chance for redemption in the very first clash of the T20 World Cup. It has the fans excited and people have already started reserving tables.

Speaking to News Trail, the manager of a bar Vishwa said, “We have about 20 tables and a capacity for 80-85 people, and when there is a big clash like India-Pakistan, the place really fills up. We even have sports journalists who write for ESPN and Sportskeeda come and watch the match here because of the atmosphere.”

Vikas Honnavar who is a KSCA-certified umpire says he plans to watch the match at home surrounded by his family. “India vs Pakistan is always an electrifying affair and it is something we have been waiting for since the Asia Cup loss.

India has an upper hand since they are used to playing on a bouncy track and have done really well against Australia recently. It is expected to be overcast, but I feel India has an edge.”

According to him, Pakistan relies too much on their top 3 batsmen and if they fail tomorrow it will be hard for them to put up a good score despite having a formidable bowling attack. Head Coach and Director of Karnataka Institute of Cricket, Irfan Sait will be screening the match for the students of his academy which has churned out many world-class players like Robin Uthappa and Mayank Agarwal.

“Since it is a T20 game, form and reputation don’t really matter and a single player can turn a game on its head as Shami did by taking four wickets in an over against Australia in the warm-up game when he wasn’t originally in the lineup,” says Sait.

Times have changed and people have gotten more good-spirited even when the team loses. “During the Asia Cup, we even had people here cheering for Sri Lanka and Pakistan here during the matches, where people support a team for how well they play,” says Viswha, who adds that the matches happening in the afternoon will see a lower turnout since most patrons will be at work.

They have seen fewer reservations than usual. “If India plays well, people are happier and spend money. If they lose, they get angry and walk out, so I am really hoping they do well,” he says. Only South Africa and Pakistan are a threat to India in the group, according to Vikas who believes they will easily qualify for the semi-final if not win the tournament.