LAHORE:
March 30, the day of what promises to be a historic match between India and Pakistan, stirs furious debate everywhere. Who is better positioned to annihilate the other? Should work places remain open? While the first won’t be answered till the final wicket stands, in answer to the second, India has already declared the day of the match an official half day. Closer to home, most businesses plan to remain closed. Even PFDC Fashion Week has been delayed by a day in consideration of the match. So now, the burning question arises, where to watch the match?
In Lahore, Ahmad Hasan, a cricket fan, has arranged a private screening of the Pak-India semi final match on a projector. Hasan is not alone to have arranged a live screening of one of the most crucial matches in cricket history.
“Watch the Pakistan-India semi final at Maisonette Platinum Hall. Air conditioned hall, hi-tea, DJ, underground bands, face paintings, food stalls, discount coupons.” This is what a message from Ahmad Hasnain reads, who has also arranged a live screening of the semi final. Cricket fever is at an all time high and many are terming the Pakistan-India game ‘a final before the final’, while doctors and psychologists fear an increase in the number of high blood pressure cases, heart attacks and, in the worst case scenario, divorces.
The cinemas in Lahore, however, have responded to this problem well and major cinemas in the city will not screen any film on the day of semi-final. In a rare move, all these cinemas will host ticketed live screenings of the semi-final.
“Nobody wants to watch a film on the day of the semi-final. Even the most die-hard fans of the cinema are dreaming about the Pak-India cricket match where even Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani will accompany his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh. Major cinemas including Sozo World, DHA Cinema, Cine Star and Metropole Cinema have decided to screen the Pak-India match on Wednesday, March 30. The screening will be ticketed, I feel people will have more fun watching cricketers in action on the silver screen rather than watching showbiz stars,” All Pakistan Cinema Management Association Chairman Qaiser Sanaullah told The Express Tribune.
Event manager Husna Khan, who has also arranged a live screening of the match, said, “A lot of celebrities including Sophia Mirza, Tony and several others are expected to come to watch the match at the screening that I am arranging. Everybody will watch the match while wearing green shirts to support the Pakistan team. The cricket fever is at an all time high, but I think people shouldn’t take the match as war, rather they should take it as the game it is. Yes, emotions are running high, but taking the game as a game is perhaps the best thing one can do to support the players who are already under immense pressure.”
Public screenings of the semi-final match serve not only to add to the fun, psychologists believe they can also help avoid many untoward incidents. Speaking to The Express Tribune, psychologist Amjad Tufail said, “It is very helpful if people watch this semi-final in groups. We fear greater chances of heart attacks, depression and even divorces on that day. If someone watches the match in a group or with friends and family, he/she keeps diffusing the anxiety by talking. Things as simple as discussing of different shots in a critical situation during a match are very effective in tackling tension and anxiety. My younger son takes cricket very seriously and often gets depressed if our team doesn’t do well. On the day of the semi-final, I plan to watch the entire match with him to keep him cool and relaxed. This exercise is helpful for all, and I think public screenings are a good solution to the tension problem as far as this semi final is concerned”.
Only time will reveal the victors of this match. What one does know, however, is that the hype of this match will always be remembered in the history of cricket and entertainment.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 29th, 2011.
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