Dubai hotspots to catch the Indo-Pak scorcher

Don’t be surprised if the streets take on a barren look on Wednesday as two South East Asian titans clash in an ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 scorcher that is bound to draw in the crowds in thousands to every neighbourhood restaurant and bar that will show the match.
 
India versus Pakistan, which is already being called the final before the actual grand conclusion to the tournament on April 2 in Mumbai, has UAE fans in a tizzy with plans underway to locate the best venue that will air the stand off between the two arch rivals on March 30.
 
If you haven’t been able to figure your logistics out yet, don’t panic. Emirates 24|7 does the leg work for you and picks out the best spots around Dubai, with offerings that come with sheesha-stained relics who probably haven’t moved from their favourite watering hole since the turn of the millennium to the new-kids-on-the-block that serve up some posh nosh to honour this gentlemanly sport.
 
While the match kicks off at 1pm UAE time, we recommend you head there early to avoid disappointment. Happy viewing and may the best team win.

India United

If you want a piece of the action and be surrounded by Indian supoorters, then this heaving bar cum restaurant at The Ramee Royal Hotel, Bur Dubai is in the thick of it.

We have lost count with the number of screens and projectors that show the cricket at Time Café, but we can promise you a packed house with screaming fans from both sides heckling and cheering everyone on.

The food is just as good – our votes go to the stuffed mushrooms and the Buffalo wings – and what’s more, sheesha too is up for grabs, albeit for a whopping Dh100.

The Karaoke Lounge has stopped playing the music in lieu of the world cup and grab a bean bag and get comfy as the fight between arch rivals India and Pakistan gets on this Wednesday.

And our favourite, of course, are the inspirational Bollywood tracks that revive the Indian spirit amongst the fans.

Power to Pakistan

Player’s Lounge, a popular sports bar at The Country Club Hotel, is an institution for the Bur Dubai and Karama crowds who simply cannot be bothered driving up the Sheikh Zayed Road strip to some of the newer additions to the city’s skyline.

Pakistan supporters are expected to come out in dozens to root for their national team and feast on the traditional English pub grub as Shahid Afridi wields his magic at the wickets.

Any sports enthusiast will be pleased with the nine plasmas and the three projector screens that will showcase the match in all its glory. What’s more, if you get there early, grab a dining booth with your own private screen.
 
For the worried worker

This one is a much tamer setting compared to the outrageous Time Café crowd, yet a perfect wind down for the office crowd in New Dubai and Jebel Ali who are desperate to find a setup to catch the match without driving 45 minutes to the nearest hotel.

The Lounge Bar at the Citymax Hotel Al Barsha is tucked away near the Mall of The Emirates, serving up delicious fare in the form of their briyani (can’t say the same about their pizzas, but you can’t have it all).
 
Family fun for everyone

You are probably wondering why go to a mall to catch a match. We say, why not?

Oasis Centre has a giant screen on the ground floor showcasing the world cup and the screens usually draw in a large crowd.

Grab the wife and kids and push them off to burn up the credit card – its for a good cause after all – while you head to the third floor food court and grab some kati rolls and samosas from the Bombay Chowpatty outlet.

Once the coast is clear, sneak off to the ground floor and hunker down for some good clean fun with similar fans.
 
Posh nosh and a Gentleman’s sport

If you are wondering where and what is Gloria Hotel, then let us be the birdie to sing about the newest acquisition of the Sheikh Zayed Road strip.

Located in Dubai Marina, near the fifth interchange, its posh nosh Sky Lounge on the 40th floor will screen the Indo-Pak match, along with serving up some non greasy fare that is perfect for all you food snobs.

And the choice is simply perfect for those of you who want to avoid the hoopla between the arch rival countries and simply enjoy the gentleman’s sport in a similar atmosphere.
 
Sneak a peek

Stuck in the office working late? Here’s a sneaky way of viewing the match without letting the boss in on the secret.

Log on to https://crictime.com/live-cricket-streaming.htm for a live stream of the match. While this is not a sure shot solution considering the internet traffic will probably see the site hang or crash, something is better than nothing, we say.

Another consideration is the free ICC World Cup 2011 Facebook application that is floating around on the world wide web and is a big hit in the Emirates 24|7 offices.
 
Home Sweet Home

Can’t be bothered driving to the local pub to watch the match? Why not have a world cup party at home by ringing your friends around for some cricketing action?

We recommend ordering in some traditional Indian and Pakistani fare to keep in with the essence of the match and if you want more fireworks, then ensure your mates are both Indians and Pakistanis. We can guarantee this one will heat up the proceedings like no other.

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