Dubai, April 02: The date of the final has worked out perfectly for Indian and Sri Lankan fans in the UAE, as Saturday is a weekend holiday for most of them, hence no need to take a day off or call in ‘sick.’
In Abu Dhabi, Saad Siddiqui from India has invited his friends home for the game. “We are in the World Cup final. This is the big one we have been waiting for, for so long. It is going to be one big game. I have invited my friends over and we will watch the game over some good food. The icing on the cake will be India winning it,” he said.
Rajesh Nair will be will be all geared up with the Team India jersey, flag and will also have his face painted. “I just can’t wait. Saturday seems like a long way away. It will be a great atmosphere watching it with friends at the sportsbar,” he said and screamed: “Come on India.”
Sri Lankan fans too are not far behind. Rifai from Colombo is working on Saturday but he said he will have a sneak peek at the action. “I am disappointed that it is a working day for me. I cannot take the day off. But I will try and catch the action during my break time. Sri Lanka has a good chance to win it. We have a strong team and we can beat India,” he said.
Chinthaka Wickremasinghe from Kandy will watch the game with his friends. “It is going to be one hell of a final. We have beaten India many times and we can beat them in their own den.”
In Dubai, community clubs, hotels, and cafes are all geared up to host huge crowds to watch the match on giant TV screens.
Yogesh Belani, Indian fan, said: “It is a big day for us today. Every ball will be the pounding of millions of hearts and roaring of fans. I will be watching the match at India Club on the big screen with all my friends. The crowd is going to be electrifying with desi dhols and music! I have got my Indian jersey ready and I am looking forward to Sachin score his 100th 100 and India wining the World Cup. Fingers crossed!”
Ajantha Premarathna, Sri Lankan fan, said: “I am going to watch the match at home. I think it will be a very competitive match. Since it is home ground for India, there will be a lot of pressure. And this is the second consecutive time Sri Lanka is in the final so they know how the pressure is.”
This is going to be the last World Cup appearance for two great cricketing legends — Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan and India’s Sachin Tendulkar.
Devesh Mathur, another Indian, said: “I am super excited to watch the match. I am going to take a day off from work and I am going to watch the match at home with my family. I am expecting a turning track today and praying that Muralitharan does not play. Hopefully, India will be able to nail the game convincingly. I am keeping my throat reserved so that when the match starts I will be cheering loudly for the team. Bleed Blue!”
Tilakdissa Nayake, Sri Lankan supporter, said: “Our country is proud of our team. Both the teams are Asians so I am really glad that the cup is going to stay in Asia. But I know we are going to win this time and even if we don’t, to reach this level is great. I am going to watch the match at home with friends and family and are going to have a party.”
Almost all places in Dubai are sold out for the final. Food courts in Lamcy Plaza and Oasis Centre will be showing the match live. Most of the shisha cafes and small joints will also be showing it.
Barasti located at Mina Seyahi Beach in Jumeirah is one of the venues where the match will be shown. Umash, the representative, said: “The tables are being sold for Dh2,000 and very few are left. We have added extra screens on the beach for the finals. After sunset, the match will be shown on the big screen on the beach. It will be shown in three different areas in total. For the semi-finals, the crowd was humongous and for the final, it is going to be even bigger and better.”
People are expected to come out with their face painted with the colours of their national flags and with the shirts and jerseys of their teams. The euphoria is going to be infectious and the memories are going to last a lifetime.
–_Agencies