2007 encore: After Pak win, fans hope for Ind-Pak final in T20 World Cup on Sun

Kolkata: Pakistan’s win over New Zealand in the first T20 World Cup semi-final on Wednesday has sparked hopes of an India-Pakistan final on Sunday.
Wednesday’s result has heightened interest in the second semi-final between India and England on Thursday with fans scrambling to figure out ways on how to watch the match as it would be broadcast at 1.30pm.
India had beaten Pakistan to win the first T20 World Cup in 2007 and fans are hoping for an encore this Sunday. Whenever the two neighbouring nations come face to face on the cricket field, there is a riveting game of cricket.
On Wednesday, several cricket enthusiasts kept checking the Pakistan-New Zealand score online but few would like to miss the match on Thursday. While some fans have decided to schedule their lunch break around the time India bats, others have sought permission to watch snatches of the match on TV in the cafeteria. The not-so-lucky ones will have to be content watching the score updates online.
“Since the match is in the afternoon when most of us will be in office, we have requested our employers to let us watch the game in the cafeteria and they have agreed,” said Asif Ali, an HR administrative executive in a BPO in Sector V.
India will take on England in the second semi-final of the T20 World Cup in Adelaide Oval. “Virat Kohli is in excellent form and might play another match-winning innings. I am a huge fan of his and don’t want to miss his innings. So I will try to schedule my lunch break around the time India bats,” said Abhishek Ghosh, who works in a law firm.
Students of a south Kolkata school have turned out to be lucky as their classes will disperse early for sports practice on Thursday. “I am really looking forward to Thursday’s match. I will be calling a few friends over and we hope to watch the match together till the end. Team India is in amazing form this time and we have a good chance of winning the cup,” said Aryaveer Chopra, a Class XI student.
But a lot of people who will not have access to television or the OTT platform will have to be content watching the score updates online. “The match is in the afternoon and I have few meetings lined up, so I will be keeping track of the score online. But we are definitely going to make plans for Sunday if India qualifies for the final,” said Sameer Gupta, senior official in a tea company.