India-Australia semis fever grips city

Cricket mania has gripped the city.The excitement for the big game that will see India and Australia battle it out on Thursday for a position in the finals is palpable. Hotels, malls and multiplexes have come up with a variety of offers to attract young cricket enthusiasts and encash on the World Cup mania.

Giant LCD TV screens and special projectors have been set up in restaurants to enable cricket lovers to enjoy the intense action while relishing snacks and beverages. The premises of hotels and malls have been decorated with huge posters of star cricketers to create an atmosphere of a real playground.

Gulab, a restaurant in One Town, has covered its entire premises and interiors with flexis and posters of cricketers for the occasion. The waiters will be dressed up like the men in blue for the special occasion. The restaurant menu will also contain special delicacies to suit the tastes of cricket lovers.

The Gateway Hotel is also geared up for the occasion.“We are offering four varieties of kebabs and 15 types of desserts followed by delicious biryani and salads as part of the food festival being organised to mark the World Cup,” said hotel sales manager Md Shabul Hussain.

Employees and businessmen alike have ensured that all arrangements were in place for the crucial match. Young girls and women have also evinced keen interest in the outcome of the semi-final as one of the two title favourites will be eliminated in the round.

Despite a strict vigil by the police, cricket betting rackets have clandestinely started to make a kill on the day of second semi-final by encashing the weakness of punters as the organisers are more tech savvy to run their operations from some remote corner in the city.