Kolkata: With the dust yet to settle on the match boycott and no-handshake controversies that preceded the T20 WC, India and Pakistan are set to lock horns in Colombo on Sunday. Bars, pubs and restaurants across Kolkata are decking up for the big night with mouth-watering food, beverages and big screens. Footfalls are expected to explode as this could be the last Indo-Pak contest in a long time to come. Fans could not have asked for a more dramatic prelude as the Men in Blue gun for yet another victory over arch-rival Pakistan.“This will be the mother of all battles,” said cricket fan Mahesh Punjabi, who plans to watch the game with friends. Punjabi, a city entrepreneur, is part of a group called ‘The Twelfth Man’, which roams the world watching India-Pakistan matches. “We will be gathering at a friend’s place. Even though we will not be there in the stands, the excitement is going to be the same,” added Punjabi.‘Retro-dining’ restaurant Chapter 2 will raise ‘a toast to the thrill of the game’ with the launch of Let’s Play!, which includes a cocktail and mocktail menu ‘crafted to match every over, every cheer, and every nail-biting finish’. The menu also includes exclusive offers on select liquors and beer buckets and will continue until the final on March 8.“Inspired by the language of cricket and the adrenaline of match nights, the offer brings together inventive mixes, crowd-pleasing classics, and non-alcoholic refreshers, making Chapter 2 the perfect destination to catch the action of the T20 World Cup live, along with the delectable delicacies available on the menu,” said Shiladitya Chaudhury, co-founder, Chapter 2.At Songhai and MS Bar & Lounge in central Kolkata, every six hit by an Indian batter on Sunday will get you a free small peg. “We expect a full house until midnight. Apart from free drinks for 6s, we have a 2:1 offer on some brands of alcohol. There will be Bumrah fried chicken, Abhishek Rogan Josh and Pandya Chicken Tikka Masala. Since we have multiple screens, we expect a stadium-like atmosphere,” said owner Sudesh Poddar.Cocktails at Chapter 2 have been christened Sixer, Square Cut, Hitwicket and Googly. It is also offering free starters with beer and has a 2:1 offer on select brands of liquor during the match.At Café Mezzuna, every boundary struck by India will attract a surprise offer for visitors, while every six will get fans an extra drink at Hoppipola. There will be ‘offers’ at Mezzuna for every Pakistan wicket that falls. “The match promises thrilling moments and we are ready to make it more thrilling for our guests. All our bars have big LED screens and the rest of our outlets have TV screens so everyone can catch every ball live,” said Anjan Chatterjee, founder and chairman of Specialty Restaurants.Oasis on Park Street already has several bookings for Sunday evening. “It should be a full house since we have screens and the match was preceded by a lot of controversy. To mark the occasion, we are offering special cocktails and platters. Footfalls were high on Valentine’s Day and will rise further on Sunday evening,” said owner Pratap Daryanani.Many from Kolkata flew to Colombo over the last two days. Other than being a popular travel destination with its casinos and water sport, you do not need a visa to travel to Sri Lanka, said Anil Punjabi, chairman (eastern region) of Travel Agents’ Federation of India. “The only requirement is an electronic travel authorisation, which can be processed in 24 hours. So, other than those who were holding on to the India-Pakistan match tickets, many more are now making a last-minute dash to Colombo,” said Punjabi.
